Obituary: Terry “Dutch” Batten

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Terry “Dutch” Batten, age 79 of Mendon, passed away at his home following a very short illness.  Dutch was born on December 17, 1944 in Mendon, the son of Shirley “Bill” and Veryl (VanNess) Batten.  He attended Mendon High School…

Out and About: Grieving, the 1950s, and cold weather vehicle ‘considerations’

Out and About: Grieving, the 1950s, and cold weather vehicle ‘considerations’

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20243 min read

We all have an expiration date. There are at least two things we must do and there’s not much we can do about them. We are all going to die sometime and we must all pay taxes. You really don’t…

County Fair begins this weekend in Centreville

County Fair begins this weekend in Centreville

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20246 min read

CENTREVILLE — The biggest event in St. Joseph County in 2024 will be getting underway this weekend.The 2024 St. Joseph County Grange Fair will take place from Sept. 15-22 this year, one of the first times ever the fair will…

Progress continues for downtown lighting project

Progress continues for downtown lighting project

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

By Dennis Volkert Work continued this week for the downtown Sturgis lighting project and related elements. Placement of lights on buildings began shortly after Labor Day, with workers using two lifts, making their way along U.S. 12. Additional features connected…

New tennis courts officially unveiled at Sturgis Middle School

New tennis courts officially unveiled at Sturgis Middle School

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

By Dennis Volkert A ribbon-cutting was held Tuesday for the newly resurfaced tennis courts at Sturgis Middle School.The unveiling was followed by a day of matches involving Bethel University, Spring Arbor University, and Trine University, at both SMS and Augspurger.Superintendent…

Former track standout enters Clare Hall of Fame

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Clare High School is slated to introduce its 2024 Hall of Fame inductees this week including Tim Gibson, who graduated in 78, and was school record holder in the long jump and was on the…

Harrison commission gets heated over Rustic Owl zoning

Harrison commission gets heated over Rustic Owl zoning

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20246 min read

By Genine Hopkins The Rustic Owl, a newer Harrison small business that opened just a year ago, has been working with City of Harrison council members, planning commission members, and the City Code Enforcement Officer, Mike Freeman, to resolve the…

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: The Anniversary of 9/11

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: The Anniversary of 9/11

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20244 min read

Today is Wednesday, September 11, 2024, now 23 years since 9/11. This morning I noticed that Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff to honor and remember the victims of…

May I Walk with You? Perfect Prayer

May I Walk with You? Perfect Prayer

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Sometimes prayer isn’t so easy. Sometimes it is really easy, especially if things are going well. Meaning that we are not worried about anything, everyone is healthy, the future is bright, we are on good terms with everything, and relationships…

Clare City Police warn of counterfeit bills in town

Clare City Police warn of counterfeit bills in town

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Chief Dave Saad said that two counterfeit bills recently surfaced at a bank in Clare.Saad said these are difficult to detect because the paper is real. It’s smaller bills that that have been bleached and then reprinted with a higher…

Obituary: Rodney Dell Zona

Obituary: Rodney Dell Zona

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Rodney Dell Zona, age 75 of Farwell, formerly of Waterford, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 2, 2024 at the McLaren Central Michigan Hospital of Mt. Pleasant.  On May 8, 1949, Rodney was born the eldest of two children to…

Obituary: Robert “Rob” William Jones

Obituary: Robert “Rob” William Jones

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Robert “Rob” William Jones, age 73, of Lake, MI, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Funeral Services for Rob will be held at the Lake Baptist Church on Saturday, September 14, at 11 a.m.…

Obituary: Jerrold Fay Rodgers

Obituary: Jerrold Fay Rodgers

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20243 min read

FEBRUARY 1, 1934 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2024                 Jerrold Fay Rodgers age 90 of rural Lake George, Michigan passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at his home. Jerrold was born February 1, 1934 in Marion, Michigan the son of Roy…

Obituary: Kenneth “Ken” Lee Beougher

Obituary: Kenneth “Ken” Lee Beougher

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20243 min read

AUGUST 31, 1949 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2024                 Kenneth “Ken” Lee Beougher age 75 of Lake George, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, September 6, 2024. Kenneth was born August 31, 1949 in Saginaw, Michigan the son of…

Obituary: Phyllis N. Campbell

Obituary: Phyllis N. Campbell

Editorial StaffSep 13, 20242 min read

Phyllis N. Campbell, age 88 of Farwell, passed away Monday, September 9, 2024 at Provision Living at East Lansing.  Phyllis was born the daughter of the late Bruce and Dorothy (Hazen) McCormick on August 17, 1936 in Manistique.  She was united in…

Saugatuck football cruises to victory over Lakeview

Editorial StaffSep 11, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorLAKEVIEW—How would the Saugatuck football respond?That was the question following the Trailblazers’ season-opening loss to Buchanan.As it turned out, coach Bill Dunn’s squad responded quite well.Three Saugatuck players rushed for at least 84 yards—with two of those…

Obituary: Joan Lamb

Obituary: Joan Lamb

Editorial StaffSep 11, 20243 min read

Family, friends and the community lost a dear and faithful servant in Joan Lamb who died on Sept. 3, 2024.Joanie, to many, was born Dec. 28, 1945, in Allegan Hospital to Edward and Ruth Knoll.A graduate of Fennville High School,…

Charity Challenge spurs smiles all around

Charity Challenge spurs smiles all around

Editorial StaffSep 11, 20247 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorEvery sinkhole led to a summit, every detour to completion at Saturday’s Mt. Baldhead Challenge.Ferry Street, a key route for this year’s 636 runners to the races’ Oval Beach sunrise starts, was judged late July unsafe to continue…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffSep 11, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorEthics CodeThere is nothing wrong with dusting off an old Saugatuck Ethics Code. City council, at members Russ Gardner’s and Logan White’s urging, reviewed its 2004-established code last in 2008.Filling 102 Butler Street seats then were Tony Vettori,…