Bulldog Stadium in Otsego and Streidl Field in Plainwell were busy on Monday, Aug. 12.That’s because that was the first official day of football practice as allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association and players from both schools were…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor During his first nine years at Plainwell Community Schools, Cody Gregory has served as a third-grade teacher and a behavior support specialist.Now, he’s adding a third job title to that list: principal.Gregory was recently named the…

By Gari Voss The August 6, 2024, Primary Election promised to unveil winners, and in a number of instances those winners have no Republican or Democrat opponent on the November 5, 2024, election ballot. Included on the Primary Election ballots…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor School hasn’t started up for local students just yet. (Although it’s getting close, as Otsego’s first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 19.)But for high school student-athletes who participate in fall sports, the 2024-25 school year…

Howley Bolen, Age 81, passed away Monday morning, August 5, 2024. Howley was born in Corydon, IN, on December 21, 1942, the son of Enoch and May (Smith) Bolen. On December 11, 1976, he married Sharon Lee Kelly who survives.…

The LaFayette Main Street hosted its Largest Friday Food Truck Festival in downtown LaFayette yet.There were over 28 food trucks and vendors with all types of foods and sweets and drinks.You had a different variety to choose from, from catfish,…

By John BriceCorrespondent Local residents were shocked to learn that an electronic “skimmer” device had been installed by criminals to steal credit/debit card information this past week at Renfroe’s Market in LaFayette. In a press release posted to the official…

LAWRENCE – A Lawrence-based, three sister musical group, Vineyard Chicks, will be one of 10 bands from throughout the state who will compete in the Michigan State Fair Superstar contest Labor Day weekend. The top winner will win an artistic…

LAWRENCE – The county-wide Road Millage renewal was successfully passed by voters in Van Buren County at Tuesday’s Aug. 6 Primary Election. The vote represented a renewal of a previous millage, not a request for additional revenue. The renewal will…

PAW PAW – Just over 25 percent of the registered voters in Van Buren County went to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 6, to cast their ballots on many local millage renewals as well as candidates seeking political offices.With unofficial results,…

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting Michigan’s first case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a domestic animal for 2024. The disease was detected in a Standardbred filly from Van Buren County; the horse was…

James Paul Dietz, Sr., 78, of Lawton, passed away peacefully in his home with his family at his side, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. He was born Oct. 8, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thaddeus and Ann Dietz.For the…

Katherine L. Alderman, Age 93 Of Bangor Passed away Monday, July 29, 2024 at Bronson Lakeview Hospital, Paw Paw.Katherine was born July 7, 1931 in South Haven the daughter of Edward and Thelma (Brouse) Brant, and has lived all of…

Many of our parents cautioned us to “Be nice” when playing with other children,  talking with adults or any other social interaction. From the 1940s until May 1985, the Ivy Room was Durham, N.C.’s foremost and only kosher Jewish deli. It also served…

I take a lot of flack for my opinion column, Mike’s Musings, from time to time. Readers (and I’m so happy you read the paper) often disagree with what I have to say. That’s all right- everyone is entitled to…

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – Paw Paw head football coach Dennis Strey had his agenda set on Aug. 12 as he was starting practices.“We will be working on fundamentals and focusing on Big Rapids,” he said, referring to the…

Retired 34-year local U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R) and current Detroit area rep. Debbie Dingell (D) will present “Voices from Across the Aisle: Getting Things Done in a Toxic Political Environment” at the next South Haven Speakers Series event Thursday,…

Allegan County Commission vice chair Dean Kapenga, who since 2020 redistricting has represented Saugatuck Township among others on the commission, died early Monday, Aug. 5, at Grand Rapids U-M Health West surrounded by his wife Jan and family. He had…

Central Dispatch took the Saturday 5 a.m. call summoned emergency first responders to reports of a rollover west of southbound I-196 near the 38-mile marker. When officers appeared on scene, they found a white the white Ford F250 pickup (shown,…

By Scott Sullivan Editor It seemed like a good idea when Douglas, with help from a $1,001,400 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant, bought the 1-acre, 14-slip Point Pleasant Marina from Max Matteson and Bud Baty in March 2021 for…