Ila Mae Schumacher, age 90, of Clare, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland.  Ila was born the daughter of Louis and Genevieve (Davis) Fancon on Sept. 3, 1931, on the family farm on Surrey…

We just returned from our first official trip to the campsite at Roscommon, where we had an absolutely lovely, if much too short weekend.Even the weather cooperated this time, with mostly sunshine, and only a brief rain in one evening…

By John RaffelCorrespondent BIG RAPIDS – Local administrators have expressed the fond memories they’ll have to the Class of 2022 graduating seniors at various schools.“Graduation was a great time for our students,” Marion K-12 principal Danyel Prielipp said. “It was…

Dan Kingsbury has lived in Alaska, Colorado, and Hawaii.But he calls northern Michigan home.As Store Manager at the Marion Village Market, Dan enjoys getting to know the friendly faces that make a northern Michigan community go. After all, he’s one…

Former Columbus (Ohio) Area Arts Council executive director Kathryn Armstrong has been named new development director at Saugatuck’s Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency. She will oversee fundraising and manage patron, sponsor and foundation relationships for the 111-year-old School…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The Saugatuck Township Planning Commission, wary of history repeating, May 23 declined activists’ urging to establish a Local Historic District at and around the Kalamazoo River mouth by a 2-2 vote. Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance members…

by Ben MurphySports Writer Lawton track and field takes seventh at D3 team finals The Lawton girls track and field team competed in the MITCA Division 3 track and field team state finals on Saturday, in Clare. The Lady Blue…

A small group from Vision LaFayette went to Birmingham last Wednesday to do a presentation before the Mainstreet Selection Committee. It was the second step necessary to obtain a Mainstreet designation. Mainstreet is a popular downtown revitalization program which will…

A city of LaFayette council seat has become open after a surprising announcement from city councilman Shannon Hunter announcing his decision to step down from city council last Friday. It was in an email sent to the mayor, council and…

By Scott SullivanEditorIn AirI knew when I saw kids plant a redwood at River Bluff Park in just centuries salamanders would skydive from it. How? From a story in The Smithsonian.Like flying squirrels, Aneides vagrans or wandering salamanders stretch their…

By Scott SullivanEditorCommunity Pride Week is underway celebrating not just the local LGBTQ population but all people with educational and fun gatherings.Community Pride Committee-sponsored events Thursday June 2, include drag bowling at Alley’s Classic American Diner, 229 Center St., Douglas.The…

By Scott SullivanEditorThe Saugatuck Township Planning Commission, wary of history repeating, May 23 declined activists’ urging to establish a Local Historic District at and around the Kalamazoo River mouth by a 2-2 vote.Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance members and other neighbors…

Here’s a sobering statistic. There have been 2032 school shootings in the U.S. since 1970 and the number of shootings is increasing in frequency. Yet very little is being done to help our vulnerable school children.We can talk. We can…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor CONSTANTINE—Three days after winning a Division 3 regional championship, the Saugatuck boys track team was in search of another title at the SAC Championship Meet on Tuesday, May 24.Securing the league crown would be no easy…

   We know the well-established choreography after every mass shooting: Politicians, police officers, and other head to the microphone and trot out the well-known, safe and approved line, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims….”  Immediately afterwards…

Florence “Flo” Fluty, 84, of Gobles, MI and Punta Gorda, FL, went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, May 29, 2022, at her home on Baseline Lake surrounded by her family. She was born August 26, 1937, in…

Harry “Butch” Eugene Winslow, 74, of New Carlisle, IN, died Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Memorial Hospital after a valiant fight against bladder cancer from Agent Orange. After his older sister, Linda Lou Winslow, passed away at just 9 months…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As a junior, Elijah Veen established himself as one of the top cross country runners in Division 2, finishing 18th at the state finals to earn All-State honors.Veen brought that same passion and desire for excellence…