“You Told Us to Demo It”: Inside the Study Session Behind Albion’s Downtown Decision

“You Told Us to Demo It”: Inside the Study Session Behind Albion’s Downtown Decision

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 7 min read

By Maggie LaNoueContributing Writer Before the Albion City Council voted May 4 to acquire the fire-damaged building at 100 S. Superior St., city leaders, staff members, preservation advocates, and residents spent more than an hour in a study session weighing…

A new bridge closure and a nagging permit issue at Concord Township

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 4 min read

By Ken Wyatt Two issues challenged the Concord Township Board at Monday’s meeting: A new bridge closure, and an old gravel pit. The bridge: County Commissioner Earl Poleski brought the news that will affect anyone planning to drive from Concord…

Michigan Theatre lawsuit settled

Michigan Theatre lawsuit settled

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 2 min read

By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer A lawsuit over leadership and governance at the Michigan Theatre of Jackson was settled Wednesday, clearing the way for leadership changes, a larger interim board and a membership vote on the organization’s future within 90…

ADPS officer arrested for suspected OWI

ADPS officer arrested for suspected OWI

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 2 min read

Early Saturday morning, Albion Department of Public Safety officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of N. Superior St. and E. Pine St.  During the traffic stop, ADPS suspected the driver was operating his vehicle while under the influence…

Four injured in weekend shooting on Biddle Street

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 2 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT and KATHRYN PALOB Contributing Writers Emergency responders converged Saturday, May 9, on a house in the 300 block of Biddle Street in Jackson after a shooting that left four people wounded. According to Jackson Police Chief Christopher…

Mothers step back in history at Gardner House Museum and Royal Stagg Renaissance Faire

Mothers step back in history at Gardner House Museum and Royal Stagg Renaissance Faire

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 3 min read

By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer Mothers did not have a lack of places to go this Mother’s Day weekend in Albion or Marshall. Saturday in Albion, mothers could attend the Albion Historical Society’s annual Mother’s Day Tea at the Gardner…

Golf Roundup Sturgis’ Lewis shines in rounds in Mt. Pleasant; Trojans win county invite

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 3 min read

MT. PLEASANT — The Sturgis boys golf team recently took part in a two-day tournament held at the Pohlcat Golf Course in Mt. Pleasant.Scores and highlights from the tourney include Gavin Lewis carding a two-day total of 161, followed by…

Baseball Roundup Three Rivers wins Hamilton tourney; lose to Constantine; defeat Paw Paw

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 7 min read

HAMILTON — Three Rivers’ baseball team had a successful week, including wins at the Hamilton Tournament and against a conference foe.On Saturday, May 9, the ‘Cats took home the championship of the Hamilton Tournament, defeating Cedar Springs 6-5, then taking…

Nelson sentenced to 40-60 months in death of 2-year-old

Nelson sentenced to 40-60 months in death of 2-year-old

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 4 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The boyfriend of Paige Bohne was sentenced Friday to 40 to 60 months in prison for his role in the November 2024 death of 2-year-old Octavia Bohne in Sturgis.Fredrick Nelson, 32, was sentenced…

Out and About: Pickleball, men, and dogs

Out and About: Pickleball, men, and dogs

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 2 min read

“Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.” -Thomas EdisonIt’s still a month away, but this is something you’ll want to mark down on your kitchen calendar, especially if you are into Pickleball. The Three…

Sturgis mayor Perez in podcast interview: ‘What’s right is right’

Sturgis mayor Perez in podcast interview: ‘What’s right is right’

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 3 min read

By Dennis VolkertEarlier this week, 500 Grand Studios broadcast a YouTube podcast interview with Sturgis Mayer Frank Perez.www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wU12Lvgrsw&t=2sIn it, Perez makes comments regarding an April 22 city commission motion to censure him and another to remove him as mayor.Each deadlocked…

Another attempt to censure Sturgis mayor is rejected by city commission Each measure regarding Frank Perez fails, 4-3

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 3 min read

By Dennis Volkert Tension surrounding mayor Frank Perez, Sturgis City Commission and uncertainty about the resignation of city manager Andrew Kuk continued on May 13, at a regular meeting of the board. Aaron Miller, commissioner at-large, brought two separate resolutions, each…

Clare track boys second

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare track and field boys were second and the girls were third last week in a Jack Pine Conference meet.Shepherd won both divisions.For Clare boys:Jacob Halicek won the 100 meters (11.16) and the 200 meters…

May I Walk with You? ETERNAL THINKING

May I Walk with You? ETERNAL THINKING

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 2 min read

One of the things successful people do is to set long term goals. Even nations set five- or ten-year goals and then make plans to make them happen. Everyone from huge corporations to governments to individuals set long term goals…

Yoder’s Auction, Flea Market returns to Clare this weekend

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 3 min read

Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher One of Clare County’s largest annual events will return this weekend as thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Yoder farm for the spring edition of Yoder’s Quilt Auction and Flea Market.The two-day event, hosted…

Surrey Board talks tech issues, residents complain about clerk

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 9 min read

By David Hutchinson The Regular Meeting was held in the Surrey Township Hall on May 12 at 6 p.m. All five board members were present—Dixie Adams, Mindy Campbell, Mike Coon, Glenna Bradbury, and Paul Ghinelli. Around 20 people attended.The board…

Farwell’s Carnival returns for Memorial weekend

Editorial Staff May 15, 2026 4 min read

By Christopher Johnson The Farwell Fairgrounds, a beloved community institution since 1906, is gearing up for one of its biggest weekends of the year: Memorial Weekend 2026. A four-day carnival event, that will be running Thursday, May 21 through Sunday,…

Saugatuck girls place third at SAC Championship Meet

Editorial Staff May 13, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorGOBLES—Novella DeGraaf helped lead the Saugatuck girls track and field team to a third-place finish Tuesday at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship meet at Gobles High School.Saugatuck totaled 75 points to place third in the 18-team field,…

Blue + gold = green?

Editorial Staff May 13, 2026 9 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck long has been primed for growth. Think blue skies reflecting on water, sun glinting off sand dunes and beaches, the two primary hues combining to feed green trees, inland orchards and money as consequence, good or bad.…

City moves Water Street watermain work till fall

Editorial Staff May 13, 2026 3 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council Monday, May 4 changed scheduled Water Street watermain valve work to dates and times less impactful to residents and businesses, with appropriate advance notice.Based on assessment by engineers, the contractor and staff, completing this work…