Saugatuck planners turn eyes on selves
By Scott Sullivan Editor Page 82 of this Thursday’s Saugatuck Planning Commission agenda packet lists learning that PC member C.J. Bagierek has likely operated a short-term rental on his 610 Lake St. properly illegally as a “Learning and Improvement Opportunity.” …
Douglas chicken flap precedes law change
By Scott Sullivan Editor Debbi Larsen, 3071 May St., wrote the City of Douglas March 9 about her neighbor’s chickens. “These issues,” she said, “began over 2 years ago when Cassandra (not her real name) came to my door asking…
Streets need work, Douglas manager says
By Scott Sullivan Editor Will Douglas settle for letting more and more roads crumble? city manager Lisa Nocerini posed it not quite that way. New PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating) figures more than one-third of the city’s 16 road miles…
Laketown pauses dead-end pave, for not
By Jim Hayden Correspondent The Laketown Township Board at a special meeting March 12 paused paving a dead-end road for financial concerns. They the week before had green-lit paving 61st Street north of 138th Avenue for about $441,000. The decision,…
Who gets Laketown Beach access? When?
By Jim Hayden Corresondent New stairs at Laketown Township Beach might be built this year following a township board decision March 12. Laketown applying for a state grant for other work at the beach as well. The board unanimously voted…
History Center hosts Tribute Rosie Saturday
The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, 130 Center St., downtown Douglas, will celebrate Women’s History Month on Rosie the Riveter Day this Saturday, March 21 hosting former Tribute Rosie Debra Wake. Doors will open at 2 for her 3 p.m. presentation. All…
Township rethinks $7.2 million BUILD ask
By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck Township wants to replace “a right-of-way in the air” with a grounded north-south connecting road inland from where Lakeshore Drive washed out nearly 40 years. But so far the estimated $9+-million project has met, and…
Erin go bark!
Pups and their people prevailed at downtown Douglas’s annual pre-St. Patricks Day Erin Go Bark pet parade last Saturday. Lakeshore Pet Boutique once again organized the bash. (Photos by Scott Sullivan)
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorDouble ThreatThok-thok-thok. One blow after another is good in pickleball for the players. Less so for editors who assume — i.e. make an ASS of U and ME — Saugatuck City Council March 9 would rubber-stamp its Parks…
Champions!
A pair of local swimmers came home with championships from the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 State Finals at the Holland Aquatic Center on Saturday, March 14.Otsego senior Liam Smith (left) won in both the 200-yard IM and…
Otsego, Plainwell set for big weekend of high school musicals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For musical theater fans, the Otsego-Plainwell area will be the place to be next week.Both Otsego High School and Plainwell High School will take the stage with their annual spring musicals, offering audiences two distinct productions…
Allegan tennis faces Portage Central, Otsego
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PORTAGE—The Allegan girls tennis team got an early look at its 2026 lineup with preseason action at the Maple Street YMCA.The Tigers faced Division 1-ranked Portage Central as well as former Wolverine Conference rival Otsego in…
Softball Preview:
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANAs she enters her first season as head coach at Allegan, Danielle Brodhagen said the team has one primary focus.“We’re focusing on being women of integrity,” she said.Because if the players on the team approach everything…
Life as Performance Art
Sometime in the 1970s my late wife Pat was hired to run an elder artists program for the City of Chicago. Her job was to recruit senior citizens to design and make art to be sold in places like Carson…
Allegan Folklife Music-Art Festival returns to AHS
By Gari Voss Thanks to the Allegan Folklife, the Music and Art Festival returns to the Allegan High School Performing Arts Center, 1560 M-40, Allegan, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, beginning at 10am. When the doors open, guests will become…
Hopkins Schools going all out to get bond approved
By Joseph SchultzAlthough the upcoming millage request was not officially on the agenda, it remained a prominent topic during Monday night’s Hopkins School Board meeting. Held at Sycamore Elementary in Dorr, the meeting room featured posters displaying details about the…
Townships seek hot meal reinstatement
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — Following the Allegan County Board of Commissioner’s vote last month to award the county millage taxpayer funded senior meals program to a Kent County organization when the current contract expires March 31, the Gun Plain…
Mattawan cheerleaders issue team awards
By John Raffel Mattawan cheer coach Nicole Plumb has announced her 2025-26 team awards.Positive Mental Attitude: Marissa Rutledge,Best Energy: Teagan Cassada.Most Inspiring: Annie Headaphol.True Loyalty: Makena Watson and Ashley Smith.Most Valuable Player Round 1: Ashley Smith.Most Valuable Player Round 2:…
United Christian Services (UCS) fundraiser surpasses $45,000
PAW PAW – United Christian Services held its fifth annual themed “Cups of Compassion” Thursday, March 12, at 600 E. Michigan Ave. The sold-out event gave those who attended an opportunity to choose a hand painted cup, enjoy a catered…
Maritime Museum looking for sailors
By James Windell Ever wonder what it would be like to be part of the crew on a tall ship?Could you see yourself sailing out on Lake Michigan every day this summer? Using terms like braces, sheets, and halyards and…
