Festival of light, life here!

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20246 min read

To arms, legs and hearts: The Venetian Fest is coming! The community’s annual celebration of life on our waterways arrives this weekend starting with a dance party Friday, July 26 in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park; continues Saturday with an afternoon dinghy…

Audit shows Laktown in solid shape

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

By Jim Hayden Correspondent Laketown Township is in solid financial shape, per its recently-completed audit. Siegfried Crandall principal accountant Joshua Gabrielse presented the 2023-24 fiscal year audit to the township board Wednesday, July 10. Highlights: • Laketown’s total net position…

‘Million Dollar Quartet heat up at SCA

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

The Million Dollar Quartet — rock’n’roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — met in Memphis Dec. 4, 1956 for an epochal 1-day gig you can see re-created starting Aug. 10 at the Saugatuck Center…

City taps Thompson as new planning/zoning head

City taps Thompson as new planning/zoning head

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck has appointed South Haven planning and zoning assistant Luke Thompson as its new cityhead of both. As planning and zoning director, Thompson fills a post city manager Ryan Cummins has doubled in since replacing former manager…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe Big Wave“One in five Michiganders,” says the Vertical Cherry website, “turn to alcohol for making big financial decisions.” Well, that explains things.“Do I dare to eat a peach?” I’d say in the day, overlooking the produce aisle.…

Venetian Fest brings back boom!

Venetian Fest brings back boom!

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20246 min read

To arms, legs and hearts: The Venetian Fest is coming!The community’s annual celebration of life on our waterways arrives this weekend starting with a dance party Friday, July 26 in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park; continues Saturday with an afternoon dinghy poker…

Alps and Mediterranean Tour Provides Hands-On Learning

Alps and Mediterranean Tour Provides Hands-On Learning

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor School is currently out of the summer.But that didn’t stop a group of Plainwell High School students from adding to their knowledge base through some first-hand experience.A contingent of 42 individuals from PHS participated in an…

Obituary: Ronald Edward Dziekan

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

Ronald Edward Dziekan passed on July 12, 2024, with his family by his side in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ronald was born to Casmir and Helen (Maciaszek) Dziekan on November 1, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois. Ron attended Catholic school in Allegan,…

Suspect burglarizes Smoke Shop in Plainwell

Suspect burglarizes Smoke Shop in Plainwell

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Officials with the Plainwell Department Safety are trying to identify the suspect in a burglary that took place in the early hours of Thursday, July 18.At approximately 4:07 a.m., officers were dispatched to Smoke City Smoke…

Obituary: Donald Dean Lickley

Obituary: Donald Dean Lickley

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

Donald Dean Lickley of Lawton, Michigan and Venice, Florida, our beloved husband, brother, brother-in-law, son, uncle, cousin and friend died unexpectedly in his home on Sunday, July 07, 2024. He was 68 years old. He was born on February 14,1956…

Obituary: Herman Warren DeLano

Obituary: Herman Warren DeLano

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

Herman Warren DeLano, aged 91 years old passed away on July 11th, 2024. He was born on May 14th, 1933 to Herman and Betty DeLano in Allegan Michigan. He attended the Allegan Episcopal Church of Good Shepard. He graduated from…

Obituary: Kimberly KayAnn Milani

Obituary: Kimberly KayAnn Milani

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Kimberly KayAnn Milani, 65, a resident of Plainwell, MI, passed away surrounded by loved ones at home on Friday, July 12, 2024. She leaves behind a legacy of dedication, love, and passion…

Obituary: Lois Marie Hays

Obituary: Lois Marie Hays

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

Lois Marie Hays, 91, of Allegan, MI passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Allegan County Medical Care Community.  Born August 16, 1932 in Allegan, MI, she was the daughter of the late Troy E. and Dorothy (Mattison) Clawson and…

Obituary: Rosemary (Toots) McKinnon

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

Rosemary (Toots) McKinnon passed away at her home in Allegan on July 10, 2024. Rosemary was born December 2, 1932 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Keith and Georgia McKinnon. She graduated from Hopkins High School in 1951 where she received…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20247 min read

    On Saturday the thirteen of this month, Pat and I were out along the lakeshore for beautiful evening at Ox-Bow School of the Arts.  There is not cell phone service there, so we missed hearing the news of the…

Surviving members of the Savage family released from hospital, time to heal

Surviving members of the Savage family released from hospital, time to heal

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

By Donald Talonen The three surviving members of the Savage family from Kalamazoo, involved in a fatal car accident, have been discharged from the hospital.The accident occurred on Sunday, June 30, at the intersection of 136th Avenue and 58th Street…

Allegan City receives $100k grant for Mahan Park

Allegan City receives $100k grant for Mahan Park

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20247 min read

By Gari Voss The City of Allegan’s Council meeting began with the resignation of Dave Redding. Redding had come on the council to fill a vacant seat then was voted into a second term. After making a statement of gratitude…

Obituary: Mr. David Phillips

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

Mr. David Phillips, 64, of LaFayette died Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Vines Funeral Home Chapel at 1:00 p.m. (CST) with Rev. G. H.…

Mike’s Musings: One would never imagine an assassination attempt, a president resigning in one week

Mike’s Musings: One would never imagine an assassination attempt, a president resigning in one week

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

What a week for the history books. First a former president, now the leading candidate for president, survived an assassination attempt, then his opponent, the current president announced he would no longer be running for a second term.I’m still confused…

Beyond the Call of Duty honors Abel

Beyond the Call of Duty honors Abel

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

On Saturday, July 20th, The Chambers County Sheriff’s Department was visited in downtown LaFayette by the Beyond the Call of Duty organization from the state of Washington to honor Deputy J’Mar Abel, who was killed in the line of duty…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239