Obituary: Carol Ann (Laughlin) Niver

Obituary: Carol Ann (Laughlin) Niver

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20243 min read

Carol Ann (Laughlin) Niver, Age 80 of Marion Michigan passed from the loving arms of her family to her Heavenly Father on May 20th. She is now reunited with her Husband Donald Niver and son David Wayne Niver and many…

Postcard from the Pines: Memorial Day – Still Marching

Postcard from the Pines: Memorial Day – Still Marching

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20244 min read

Decoration Day, as Memorial Day was originally known, was established in May 1868. It was designated as the day to decorate graves and honor the memory of soldiers killed during the then very recent American Civil War. Today, we honor…

May I Walk with You? Gardens

May I Walk with You? Gardens

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20243 min read

I can’t remember a time when I did not have a garden of some kind. The early part of my life in northern Gratiot County was accentuated by gardens. Not only were there the gardens where we planted, weeded, and…

Neighbors living behind Biggby bring concerns to Harrison Council

Neighbors living behind Biggby bring concerns to Harrison Council

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20242 min read

By Genine Hopkins After praising the Harrison City Council for their hard work in creating a more vibrant downtown, Harrison resident Don Kolander – who lives in the neighborhood behind the location of the new Biggby Coffee – brought concerns…

Full slate of events for Memorial Day weekend

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20244 min read

By Genine Hopkins While this is not a comprehensive list, here are some events this holiday weekend to enjoy with friends and family: Friday/Saturday events Mystic Camp (YMCA) at 9507 W. Ludington Drive in Lake has a fun filled weekend…

Jolly, Krchmar, Sutten named Marion valedictorians

Jolly, Krchmar, Sutten named Marion valedictorians

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20241 min read

Marion High SchoolGraduationInformation Date: Friday, May 24, 2024Time: 7:00pmLocation:Gymnasium Other top students shown rounding out the top 10 students of Marion High School Graduating class of 2024

Fourteen graduate from NMC

Fourteen graduate from NMC

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20241 min read

The following seniors will be recognized at Northern Michigan Christian School at graduation:Ethan BennettTitus JohnsGideon CurellKaya HaanTristan HillElijah KimbelGrant LutkeDmitry NovikovAubree PatteeBrett RitsemaKathryn ShaardaEmerson TosseyJada VanNoordKylee Winkle

Marion School Board approves Superintendent and Superintendent Asst. contracts

Editorial StaffMay 24, 20244 min read

By Genine Hopkins The Marion Public School Board regular meeting was held on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. in the Elementary School Library. The board, after careful discussion, approved a three-year contract for Danyel Prielipp, with a base pay…

Saugatuck soccer wins two games

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorSCHOOLCRAFT—If you mention the name Cecelia Atkins to players and coaches from the Schoolcraft girls soccer team, there’s a good chance they might break into a cold sweat.And for good reason.Atkins, a Saugatuck sophomore, scored a career-best…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFish StoryA leading suspect has emerged in the case of the spinning smalltooth sawfish: algae.For months ichthyologists have puzzled over what’s ailing and killing dozens of fish species off the Florida Keys. In what NBC News calls “a…

Faces of Armed Forces Day

Faces of Armed Forces Day

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

Preceding Memorial Day each year is the Saugatuck-Douglas Armed Forces Day Luncheon, held Saturday at the Community Church of Douglas, recognizing U.S. veterans and their families. These are eyes, one comes away thinking, that have seen everything. Memorial Day observances…

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The people spoke. And the organizers of the Island City Festival in Plainwell listened.“Based on feedback from last year, people were expecting more adult-sized activities (at the festival),” Island City Festival president Larry Gonzalez said. “So,…

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Monday, May 6, organizers of the Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest held their annual dinner and awards ceremony at Frederik Meijer Gardens.And three Plainwell High School students were among those being honored.Josie Longcore, Julia…

Helen Ave. reconstruction project underway in Otsego

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager The northside of the City of Otsego will be looking a little different this summer. Actually, it will be looking very different.It’s hard to miss the infrastructure project that has already commenced and will likely…

Plainwell wins three events at regionals, Otsego claims two events

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor RICHLAND—The Plainwell quartet of Hiro Nguyen, Donovan Ryan, Henry Cox and Isaac Veen entered the Division 2 boys track regional at Gull Lake High School ranked first in the 4×800 relay.And they didn’t disappoint, shaving four…

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Mary K. Bastian, age 71, of Gladstone, MI passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the UP Health System in Marquette, MI.Mary was born July 18, 1952 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Frank and Marilyn (Stigers) Bastian.…

Obituary: June A. Smith

Obituary: June A. Smith

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

June A. Smith passed away peacefully at Resthaven Care Center in Holland, Michigan on May 14th, 2024. June was born in Berwyn, Illinois on August 10, 1931 to her doting parents Edward “Ted” A. Reed and Helen Kientop Reed.As a…

Obituary: William Don Howard

Obituary: William Don Howard

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

William Don Howard, 73, of Allegan, MI passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Meadow Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bloomingdale. Born January 9, 1951 in Greely, CO, he was the son of the late Don and Elizabeth (Vivian)…

Obituary: Albert John Radspieler II

Obituary: Albert John Radspieler II

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Albert John Radspieler II, a resident of Allegan, Michigan, age 83 bid farewell to this world on April 30, 2024. Born on January 19, 1941, to the late Albert John Radspieler Sr. and Antoinette “Ann” (Wapienik) Radspieler, he was also…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20246 min read

   When I was growing up, some of The Olds still called it Decoration Day.  They were participating in a tradition that dated back to the 1860s, just after the Civil War.  Late each May they went to the local cemetery to clean…