Obituary: Robin Lee Schock
Robin Lee Schock passed unexpectedly from a cardiac event at the age of 64. While in high school, she participated in many extracurricular activities such as basketball, cheerleading, softball and band. Robin graduated from Saugatuck High School in 1977, then…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorMyLifeThe email from MyLife said “Fix mistakes in yo …” A generous offer. Where do I begin? Yo-, I thought again. Who is “MyLife” and why do they call themselves that?What shall I pay them to scour databases…
New Wades’ docks in, Red Flame to go
By Scott SullivanEditorWade’s Bayou has two new floating but soon will lose its third-year giant red ring.Douglas City Council Aug. 5 thanked the new rowing docks’ unnamed donor for helping replace the downtown waterfront park’s aging old one, noting too…
Football Begins
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…
Gregory named new principal at Gilkey
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…
The primary voters have spoken
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…
Student-athletes begin practice for fall sports
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…
Obituary: Howley Bolen
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.…
LaFayette festival features food trucks, huge crowds
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,…
Attempted fraud thwarted at Renfroe’s Market
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…
Three sister musical group to appear at Michigan State Fair
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…
County-wide road millage renewal successful
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…
25% vote in county primary election
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,…
MDARD confirms first case of EEE in state, in county horse
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…
Obituary: James Paul Dietz Sr.
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…
Obituary: Katherine L. Alderman
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…
Life as Performance Art
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…
Mike’s Musings: I’m disgusting and stupid- so readers say
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…
Paw Paw football team focusing on opener
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…
Upton, Dingell highlight Sept. 5 SH talk
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,…

Do you need help? Write Us!
By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher
Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.
It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.
















