Ruth Davis

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20221 min read

Ruth Davis, 86, of LaFayette passed away June 10, 2022, at her residence. The funeral was Sunday, June 12, at 4 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, LaFayette, with the Rev. Chuck Goodwin, Rev. Floyd Aiken and Rev. Tim Calloway officiating.…

Mr. Donald Eugene Kirk

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20221 min read

Mr. Donald Eugene Kirk, 68, of Roanoke died Sunday, June 5, 2022 at WellStar West Georgia Medical Center, LaGrange, GA. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Vines Funeral Home Chapel at 12:00 p.m. (CST) with Rev.…

Sherlynn Coupe, 81

Sherlynn Coupe, 81

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20224 min read

Sherlynn Anne (Smith) Coupe, 81, of Saugatuck-Douglas died Monday afternoon, June 6, 2022, at the Cove Health Facility.Sherlynn (Sherry) was born on Aug. 19, 1940 in Everett, Wash. She was the eldest of four children born to Stanley and Sonna…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20224 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorWhat It IsI’m convinced there are rational Republicans. At one time I may have been one. When parties poop on me I don’t take it as personal nor fate; it’s an opportunity.Take the Republican National Committee as latest…

David Alan Bell, 60

David Alan Bell, 60

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20222 min read

David Alan Bell, 60, of Allegan, passed away June 7, 2022 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Born on August 6, 1961 to the late Ralph Loren and Joan Mae Bell (Linsner), Dave was the youngest of four children. Small in stature…

Irvin “Skip” Clifford, Jr., 60

Irvin “Skip” Clifford, Jr., 60

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20222 min read

Irvin “Skip” Clifford, Jr., 60, of Allegan, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, June 8, 2022 in Allegan, Michigan. Born May 21, 1962 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was the son of the late Irvin Sr. and Jacqueline (Brabon) Clifford and the…

My father, my hero

My father, my hero

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20223 min read

(I wrote this a year ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me)This week I give pause to reflect on my hero,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20226 min read

       I have been waking up well before dawn this spring, and it is all my wife’s fault.  No, she is not pulling the blankets over to her side on cool mornings, or sprawling across the bed, shoving me closer to the…

Otsego Arts Council hosts first Artisan Market

Otsego Arts Council hosts first Artisan Market

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor When the volunteer-led Otsego Arts Council formed last year, it did so with a mission to “empower artists and expand arts programming in our community.”One way the council is fulfilling that mission is by hosting the…

Irving retires as pantry director at Christian Neighbors

Irving retires as pantry director at Christian Neighbors

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor One hour.That’s how long Dorothy Irving’s friend asked her to commit to volunteering at Christian Neighbors Food Pantry. That was in 1999.“My neighbor Patsy was in charge of the pantry—which was located in a small garage-sized…

Summer reading programs start at local libraries

Summer reading programs start at local libraries

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20225 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Students who attend Otsego Public Schools and Plainwell Community Schools are officially on summer break.And that, among other things, means it’s time once again for the annual summer reading programs at the local libraries.The programs at…

Jump Into Summer

Jump Into Summer

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20221 min read

Seven local ourtdoor arts installations, including this one in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park, are part of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ 20th anniversary celebration commencing this Friday with a free concert and more fun at the Center. Kelli Jacobsma gets…

July 4 show, revised, to go on

July 4 show, revised, to go on

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20227 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorIs an Independence Day free from threats possible? Saugatuck’s July 4 parade will go on, Mayor Garnet Lewis told city council Thursday, with her leading in lieu of the Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club stepping down claiming it could not…

Wayland Schools seek $48.5 million bond approval

Wayland Schools seek $48.5 million bond approval

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20223 min read

Wayland Union Schools will have a bond proposal on the August 2, 2022 ballot focusing on improved learning environments and technology in all school buildings, upgrades to Career Tech spaces, a new pool for district and community use, larger instructional…

Trestle bridge to remain closed, summer events kick-off successful

Editorial StaffJun 15, 202212 min read

By Leslie Ballard Infrastructure issues continue to be a major concern for the Allegan City Council, who spent most of the June 13 Study Session discussing the status of the trestle bridge near Jaycee Park.The Council voted to close the…

One dead, one critical when motorcycle crashes in to ditch

Editorial StaffJun 15, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Allegan County sheriff department deputies reported on Sunday at 8:50 p.m., first responders were dispatched to a personal injury crash on 130th Ave near 24th St in Monterey Township.A Hopkins Fire Department member came across a single…

Soaring gas prices cause budget cuts for Isabella Sheriff

Soaring gas prices cause budget cuts for Isabella Sheriff

Editorial StaffJun 10, 20222 min read

By Pat MaurerGas prices, now over $5.00 a gallon, the highest ever, have caused a cutback in in-person response to non-life-threatening calls at the Isabella County Sheriff’s Office.Sheriff Michael Main posted the reduced travel for officers on Facebook Tuesday. He…

CGRESD selects Mager as new superintendent

CGRESD selects Mager as new superintendent

Editorial StaffJun 10, 20223 min read

The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District has a new leader. Tara Mager will come aboard as CGRESD Superintendent on July 1, and she’s eager to get started.At a special meeting of the CGRESD Board of Education Tuesday, board members voted…

Harrison looking at a new hotel

Harrison looking at a new hotel

Editorial StaffJun 10, 20223 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent “A hotel “has been on the Harrison wish list for a long time,” new Harrison City Manager Justin Cavanaugh recently posted in an email. “We are closer than ever to make that wish a reality.”The city’s wish…

Summerfest plans underway

Editorial StaffJun 10, 20223 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondentIt’s now only ten days away!Seven days’ worth of events are planned for this year’s Summerfest celebration in Clare. All week long the Consumers Energy Ice Cream Social will be ongoing. Get your ticket at the different events…