Two dead after Wednesday morning fire
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Two people perished in a Tompkins Township house fire Wednesday morning. According to the Michigan State Police, troopers from the Jackson post were dispatched at around 10:20 a.m. to a residential fire in the 6800…
Downtown Rental Rehab Grants raise questions and opportunities
by Maggie LaNoue At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Albion City Council approved applications for Community Development Block Grant funding to rehabilitate three downtown buildings. The requests total more than $618,000. The properties include 217 S. Superior Street, home of…
Volunteers make Binder Park Zoo’s Corks & Kegs a success
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer Binder Parks biggest fundraiser Corks and Kegs at the Zoo, held Sept. 6, brought out 60 volunteers from all over Calhoun County and even some from Jackson County to raise money for the care of…
AUSTIN BLAIR: Michigan’s radical Civil War governor
By Ken Wyatt Generations have come and gone since Austin Blair served as Michigan’s great Civil War governor from 1861-65. He once was a towering figure in Michigan history. But even great historic figures wane in the knowledge of successive…
Tiny Tails Birthing Barn brings fresh look to old County Fair tradition
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A familiar sight at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair got a bit of an expansion and rebrand for this year’s edition, but its mission is still the same as ever. The Tiny Tails…
Soccer Roundup: Three Rivers shut out by Plainwell
PLAINWELL — Three Rivers’ boys’ soccer team had a tough time at Plainwell Thursday, Sept. 11, getting shut out by the Trojans 7-0.No stats were reported for the match.With the loss, Three Rivers goes to 1-4-1. Constantine earns first win…
Tennis Roundup Three Rivers loses to Vicksburg, narrowly beat Niles
VICKSBURG — Three Rivers’ boys’ tennis team traveled to Vicksburg Thursday, Sept. 11, and came away with a 6-2 loss to the host Bulldogs.Winning for the Wildcats were the No. 1 doubles duo of Parker Bingaman/Todd Wadsworth, who defeated Mason…
Out and About: Saving money, roads, and Iceland
“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.” -John A. Shedd As promised, here are some ways to save money on your home utilities:
County superintendents urge Lansing to ‘act quickly’ to pass state budget
Superintendents: ‘Our students deserve a stable, fully funded school year’ By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Leaders of every school district in St. Joseph County are urging action by state lawmakers as a deadline to pass a state budget looms…
Clare golfers first at Shepherd
By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare’s golf team was first at Shepherd on Monday at Pleasant Hills Golf Course.Itwas a nine-hole tournament with Clare at 210, Shepherd at 224, Saginaw Heritage 232 and Clare No. 2 team at 238.For the…
May I Walk with You? Blessed
Recently, I had the opportunity to loan my daughter my pretty blue truck, because hers would not start. I got the call at 6:30 am. I had just got dressed, and my instant reaction was not positive. I was soon…
Residents shaken as fire ignites in Gateway apartments Later determined just a kitchen fire
By Christopher Johnson This past Sunday at roughly 5 PM, emergency crews rushed to the Gateway Village high-rise after reports of a fire. According to residents, the incident began in a third-floor apartment when a kitchen burner was left on…
Surrey Board unhappy with GFL, BS&A contracts Clerk says BS&A contract is a nightmare
By David Hutchinson The Regular Meeting was held in the Surrey Township Hall on September 9 at 6 p.m. All five board members were present—Mike Coon, Mindy Campbell, Glenna Bradbury, Dixie Adams, and Paul Ghinelli. More than 20 people attended.The…
Saugatuck cross country teams place second at Holly
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorHOLLY—Under the leadership of the husband/wife team of Rick and Angelina Bauer, the Saugatuck cross country team has never shied away from tough competition.Case in point: the Trailblazers moved up a Division at the Holly Duane Raffin…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorWild ThingA girl raised by apes has been found in northern India. The press there likens her to Mowgli, the wild boy in Rudyard Kipling’s novel “The Jungle Book,” which has been spun off into films, comic books…
Lakeshore Harvest Riders outlast rain
More than 400 riders were undeterred by early morning showers Saturday, venturing out to enjoy the 14th annual Lakeshore Harvest Ride fundraiser for the Friends of the Blue Star Trail.Once the rain abated mid-morning, cyclists were able to more fully…
Township OKs 30-home Singapore Retreat
By Scott SullivanEditorNeighbors did not back down from opposing the proposed Singapore Retreat development.But the Saugatuck Township Board Sept. 10 approved granting applicants Koetje Builders LLC and Exxel Engineering PUD (planned unit development) approval to build 30 homes on 8.97…
Northside Park reopens 60 hours after big blaze
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Well, that didn’t take long.Less than three days after the large wooden playground structure at Otsego’s Northside Park was engulfed in flames—the result of suspected arson—the park was open to the public once again.The fire took…
Otsego royalty
During Otsego High School’s homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 12, Colin Fitzpatrick was crowned king, while Grace DeBoer was named queen. (Photo provided)
Pumpkins in the Park set for Saturday, Oct. 4
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Pumpkins in the Park is turning 20.That’s right. The annual autumn tradition in downtown Plainwell is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, with the event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4.The fun is scheduled to take place…
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