Officers perform rescue on frozen lake in subzero temperatures
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Jackson County Sheriff’s officers and Michigan State Police troopers braved subzero temperatures and unstable ice to save a person in crisis early Saturday. JSO officers responded to an emergency call Jan. 25 at about 6:30…
Frederick Noakes charged in fire that injured two last week in Jackson
By ELIZABETH FERSZT and KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writers Frederick Lewis Noakes, 43, was arraigned Jan. 23 in the courtroom of Magistrate Christopher Dickerson on felony charges related to a Jan. 21 fire that injured two other men. According to a…
Council approves ordinance tightening oversight of adult-use marihuana grow facilities
Albion City Council approved updates to the city’s adult-use marihuana ordinance Jan. 20, following discussion and a first reading earlier in the month. The ordinance clarifies municipal licensing requirements and expands the city’s authority to inspect and enforce compliance at…
Homicide victim found on Jackson’s east side
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Michael Mishaw of Jackson is the victim of the second homicide of the year in the City of Jackson. He was found dead in a parking lot on the city’s east side. According to a…
Deer culling to take place this weekend in Jackson
By ELIZABETH FERSZT and KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writers A deer culling originally set to take place in Jackson, Jan. 16-18 has been rescheduled for this weekend. According to information posted on the City of Jackson’s website, the city, “in partnership…
Hearty Chili and Strong Roots: Albion Community Gardens Brings Neighbors Together
On a frigid January evening, while winter weather disrupted travel across much of the country, the warmth inside St. James Episcopal Church told a different story. Nearly 100 people, including volunteers, gathered for the Albion Community Gardens annual Chili Dinner…
Cass Street Vote Advances Broader 2026 Construction Plan
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Albion City Council voted Jan. 20 to approve a Michigan Department of Transportation contract for improvements on West Cass Street, advancing a project that has been in planning for several years and helping define the…
Boys’ Basketball Roundup Colon’s Vinson gets 100th win as Magi roll Athens
COLON — Colon took down Athens last week, 61-40, and in the process, Magi coach Steve Vinson gained his 100th career victory as Colon head coach. A 21-6 first-quarter lead was all the winners needed to come out on top.…
Girls’ Basketball Roundup Sturgis splits close games against Otsego, Paw Paw
OTSEGO — The Sturgis girls suffered just their second loss of the season on Monday, as host Otsego edged the Trojans, 43-39.A second half comeback fell just short, as the Bulldogs held double-digit leads in both the third and fourth…
Permit for new massage establishment in TR recommended for approval Beebe: Talks may be coming of lessening burden for prospective massage businesses
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A new massage establishment could soon be on the way to Three Rivers, and could, unrelated to its application, spark new conversations about the requirements for such businesses to come into the city.On…
Out and About: Kissing facts, regrets, and Valentines Day
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” -Abraham LincolnKissing Facts You Might Not Know
Multi-step process led to Sturgis Public Schools bond proposal
By Dennis Volkert On Jan. 12, Sturgis Board of Education approved a bond election resolution, by a 7-0 vote. Proposal details were approved by the board in November.The proposal is scheduled to appear on the May 5 election ballot. If approved…
Sand sentenced to 5-15 years for sexual assault of minors
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A prison sentence was handed down Friday to a former food service worker at Mendon Junior/Senior High School accused of sexually assaulting minors.Kaitlyn Sand was sentenced by Judge Paul Stutesman in St. Joseph County…
Farwell wrestlers beat St. Louis
By John RaffelCorrepondent FARWELL — Farwell wrestlers were in action earlier this week.“We wrestled in Sanford,” Farwell coach Ryan Cutler said. “We wrestled St. Louis and had a blowout loss but then we wrestled Pinconning and we got the win.…
May I Walk with You? WHO MADE GOD?
An interesting question was recently asked, “Who made God?” Whoa! Growing up in a Catholic Christian home we were taught that God always existed and that he created us. I am reminded of a song by Rich Mullins that reflects…
Deep freeze blankets Clare County
By Genine Hopkins The past week has seen record breaking cold temperatures for Northern Michigan, including Clare County, including temperatures well below freezing. The only consolation is there was little wind. Accuweather’s readings by the early morning hours of Friday,…
FAS BOE updates property, approves contract for Carncross
By Genine Hopkins Farwell Area Schools (FAS) Board of Education (BOE) held a Special Meeting on Monday, January 19th. Below are some of the items discussed.The FAS BOE voted to approve contracts for both Carrie Carncross as the Interim Superintendent…
Jon’s Country Burgers, Mount Pleasant’s drive-in diner, has closed
By Christopher Johnson After serving the Mount Pleasant community for nearly a century, it is with a heavy heart that Jon’s Country Burgers has announced an end to 69 years of service.On the diner’s Facebook, last Wednesday’s announcement reads, “Due…
Trailblazers suffer first loss in hard-fought game
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorMUSKEGON—It’s been said that all good things must eventually come to an end.For the Saugatuck girls basketball team, the end of its season-opening winning streak ended at the hands of host Western Michigan Christian on Thursday, Jan.…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAm I Dead Yet?Hell froze over last week, along with the rest of Michigan. Trees were exploding everywhere. That’s right. “During spells of extreme cold,” notes the National Forest Foundation, “when trees haven’t had time to acclimate, the…






















