Pickleball’s popularity, per Sports and Fitness Industry Association spokesperson Laur Futterman, makes it the fastest-growing sport in America, as witness players such as the forehand-whacking aficianado pictured here on the eight courts at Douglas’s Schultz Park. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)

By Scott SullivanEditorNick Wikar has been fired as Douglas planner and zoning administrator, leaving both the city and neighbor Saugatuck seeking new help at that position.Wikar, who replaced Lisa Imus as planner/ZA in March 2020, left after an Aug. 15…

There are worse things than a dog’s life packed by a pet person to peruse Saugatuck’s Water Street. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor WAYLAND—The Wayland boys cross country team eked out a win by the slimmest of margins at the season-opening Wayland Mini Invite on Monday, Aug. 22.The buoyed by the winning effort of Devin Weaver (17:48), the Wildcats…

The Allegan girls swim & dive team came home with a 92-89 win over Portage Northern in its first meet of the season.Bella Festerling had the team’s only individual top honors, winning both the 50 and 100 freestyle, while also…

Of all the conditions or diseases, one might encounter, Alzheimer’s/dementia is in my opinion the worst.Many of us know a mother, father or a close relative that has suffered from this disease that saps almost all memory from a person.…

   Play, we are told, is the work of children.  Einstein wrote that when children play it is the beginning of all research. A classic example that philosophy might be the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  As a youngster his mother sat…

By Gari Voss 2022 Fiber FestivalThe weekend of August 20-21, 2002 really began on Wednesday for the 2022 Fiber Festival at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. That is when folks first arrived to participate in the first of 59 fiber arts…

Peggy Ann (Ruby) Dillon, age 90 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 12, 2022 at the Pioneer Golden Estates Assisted Living Facility of Clare surrounded by her loving family.  On January 26, 1932, Peggy was born one of three…

Arnold Lee “Bill” Newman, age 89 of Clare, (formerly of Frankenmuth) passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, just ten days shy of his 90th birthday, at Pioneer Golden Estates in Clare.  “Bill” was born the son of Ted and Arvilla Newman…

Jackson, Michigan – Betty Baker, of Jackson passed away Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Summit Park Assisted Living. She was 89.She was born on September 15, 1932, in Cadillac Michigan, to Oscar and Marguerite (Kent) Johnson. Betty was married to…

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent With the help of Clare Businessman Steve Letherer, the City will be able to begin the process to develop a third Industrial Park on the south side of the original Industrial Park.After the last lot in the…

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent When the Old US-27 Motor Tour stops at Harrison, Friday afternoon, August 26th, they will be just a part of Harrison’s annual Street Fair on Friday and Saturday, August 27th with loads of activities to add to…

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent “Back in Its Day It Was the Way!” That’s the slogan that marks the historic old US-27 Motor Tour, which will be making its 16th annual cruise through the center of Michigan all next week.Every 3rd week of…

The dog days of summer are here. They always set the backdrop for certain activities, high among them everything involving the back-to-school rush. This week students picked up schedules amid the final paving of the MHS drive and parking lot.…

Although Marion wasn’t home in the beginning for Clare and Deb Wood, Marion will always be home in the end.Clare, a ’69 Gladwin graduate, and Deb, a ’77 Marion graduate [who moved here with her grandparents in the 8th grade]…

By John RaffelCorrespondent School officials are getting ready for the opening of the 2022-23 school year.“McBain Schools is fully staffed with teachers, and we are ready for the 2022-2023 school year,” superintendent Scott Akom said. “We have posted and are…

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – The Osceola County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the Osceola County Sheriff Department to hire four school resource officers and to place them in the schools as soon as positions are filled.County commissioner Roger…

To the editor, The mission of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center is to preserve local history and inspire learning to inform and improve our community. We are a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of the people of…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR It wasn’t musical chairs but close Aug. 10 as the Saugatuck Township Board: • Accepted supervisor Cindy Osman’s resignation and appointed her full-time building official/assistant zoning administrator; • Named clerk Abby Bigford supervisor to replace Osman;…