Permit for new massage establishment in TR recommended for approval Beebe: Talks may be coming of lessening burden for prospective massage businesses

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 5 min read

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

Out and About: Kissing facts, regrets, and Valentines Day

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 2 min read

“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

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 5 min read

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

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 7 min read

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

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 1 min read

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?

May I Walk with You? WHO MADE GOD?

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 3 min read

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

Deep freeze blankets Clare County

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 4 min read

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

FAS BOE updates property, approves contract for Carncross

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 4 min read

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

Jon’s Country Burgers, Mount Pleasant’s drive-in diner, has closed

Editorial Staff Jan 30, 2026 7 min read

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

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 3 min read

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

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 4 min read

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…

Snow day

Snow day

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 1 min read

There’s no day like a snow day. Local students and others had plenty of opportunity to bundle up and head into an Arctic outdoors last week. Where’s global warming when we need it? (Photo by Scott Sullivan)

Saugatuck pub crawl calls heat up

Saugatuck pub crawl calls heat up

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 3 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorIt looks like another banner year for banners advertising pub crawls hung under Saugatuck’s iconic pallet sign at Lake Street and Blue Star HighwayCity council Monday approved requests from the Red Horse Center inviting all to the Saugatuck…

Otsego to host Anne Frank exhibit starting Feb. 2

Otsego to host Anne Frank exhibit starting Feb. 2

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 4 min read

Otsego will host Anne Frank: A History for Today, a traveling, museum-quality exhibit that presents the history of the Holocaust through the life and perspective of Anne Frank and her family.The 32-panel exhibit opens Feb. 2 and will be on…

City of Otsego advises residents not to run water for freeze concerns

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 2 min read

Officials from the City of Otsego say they are not advising residents not to run their water at this time in response to cold weather and freezing concerns related to the city’s water system.According to the City, staff have been…

Winter weather leads to weeklong school closures in Otsego, Plainwell

Winter weather leads to weeklong school closures in Otsego, Plainwell

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Snow days are often the stuff of student (and some teacher) daydreams—a hopeful glance out the window, a phone refresh before sunrise, and the quiet thrill of seeing school canceled.Last week, those hopes became reality in…

Otsego girls stay atop conference standings with victory over Sturgis

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—It’s been said that good things come to those who wait.That proved to be true for Otsego girls basketball coach Tony Koshar and his team as it related to the showdown with Sturgis.The game, which featured…

Otsego bowling teams show improvement against Sturgis

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BRONSON—Otsego’s boys and girls bowling teams continue to show improvement and resilience as the regular season continues, turning in several strong individual and team performances despite facing tough competition.The most recent action came Monday, Jan. 26,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 6 min read

It’s been a quarter-century since the death knell sounded for those old chests of drawers in libraries.Were you card-carrying member of the Olds era, you remember them. Three sections of cards, alphabetically organized according to author, subject, or title.We started…

Cabin fever buster opportunities around the county

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 5 min read

By Gari VossAllegan, Michigan offers much more than just food and drink. There is no need to be disappointed about missing the sold out Comedy Night at Tantrick Down Under or the January Pub Quiz or the beginning of Pinball…