Thick wildfire smoke from fires burning in Canada and Minnesota blanketed Michigan on Thursday, prompting state officials to warn residents to limit time outdoors as air quality reached hazardous levels across much of the state. The Michigan Department of Environment,…

Michigan health officials are investigating a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened 4,312 people statewide, including 102 who reported being hospitalized, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The totals include 167 cases in Jackson County, 145 in…

By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer The Hot Air Jubilee opens Friday at Ella Sharp Park as the U.S. Women’s Balloon National Championship continues after a week of competition flights affected at times by heat, haze and rain. The championship began…

By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer A larger-than-usual audience filled the Albion City Council chambers July 6 to honor longtime community visionary Vera Simpson. Friends, neighbors, and community leaders came to recognize a woman who saw needs in Albion and quietly…

“If wrinkles must be written on our brow, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.” -James A. GarfieldFastening your seat belt before driving off has become an automatic thing to just about everyone…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A local board in the City of Three Rivers is being scrutinized by local leadership, leading to local commissioners tabling a bylaw change that would have potentially fixed one of the allegations being…

“MI Art Fest,” featuring “Color Run,” was held July 10 in downtown Sturgis.Other attractions included a rock-climbing wall, trackless train and monster truck rides, a car cruise-in, “make and take” at Open Door Gallery, live music by Moon Howler and…

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — It was an unusual heat wave which hit the area this week and affected the turnouts, somewhat, at the sixth annual Detroit Lions Legends champ at Clare’s football Field on Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16.Among…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director STURGIS — A statewide nurses’ union is suing Sturgis Hospital in federal court for what they allege is the hospital’s failure to follow state law when they announced their closure last month.In a complaint filed July…

St, Catherine of Siena is a fourteenth century mystic, Doctor of the Church, Dominican, papal counselor, and stigmatist. I read a meditation by her in the Magnificat and have wanted to comment on this meditation, but it is so eloquently…

Celebration of the 250 th Anniversary of the Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Harrison July 8, 2026!Members of the Michilimacinac Chapter, DAR along with Clare VFW and distinguished guests including Dawn Brady, State Regent, Michigan DAR, and State…

Grant Township residents will head to the polls this August to vote on a crucial fire millage renewal that secures local emergency services without raising taxes. In fact, due to a Headlee Amendment rollback, property owners will actually see a…

By Christopher Johnson The time is finally here again. This weekend, Farwell will be drawing crowds to celebrate its annual Lumberjack Festival. A community tradition that continues to define summertime fun in Clare County. While maintaining some cultural significance with…

By Wendy Colsen The Interurban Transit Authority and Saugatuck-Douglas District Library will both seek millage renewals for the upcoming August 4 election. As of last week, early ballots have been mailed to those who requested them.Among the Interurban and library…

Live music from the Doctors of Jazz, animals from the Outdoor Discovery Center, refreshing craft beer and wine equals fun for all at this week’s Summer Social and Backyard Bash.The Saugatuck-Douglas District Library and the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center invite you…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For many people who attend healthy cooking classes at Christian Neighbors, the sharp kitchen knives waiting on the counter are simply another tool for preparing a meal.What they may not realize is that those knives were…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Nearly three months after severe storms and tornadoes swept through the Plainwell-Otsego area, residents affected by the April disaster now have a nearby place to receive in-person help applying for federal assistance.One of eight Michigan Disaster…

    As the late Yogi Berra once observed on several occasions, “Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.” He is right, and perhaps nothing makes that quite as clear as when we celebrate a significant date or event. Right now,…

By Gari Voss The Allegan July 3rd Jubilee has been rescheduled after being postponed by nature’s firework display on July 3, 2026. July Jubilee: America250 will be Friday, July 24, 2026, with all the bells and whistles.5:00pm: Food Trucks beginning…

By Art Nicholas When Beacon Health System took ownership of Allegan’s hospital on July 1, 2025, it inherited more than a building. It inherited a community’s long memory — of a facility older residents still describe as once robust and…