Township OKs $358K in 2022 road work
By Scott SullivanEditorThere will be a whole lotta crack sealing going on this summer with the Saugatuck Township Board last month approving work orders for an estimated $358,000 worth of road improvements in 2022.The Allegan County Road Commission will seek…
Life as Performance Art
By G.C. StoppelI read Mike Wilcox’s father’s reflections on small town life with delight.I grew up in a city of some 30,000. After ordination I moved to a church in a hamlet of 92 people, with one gas station, one…
Thanks for column on gratitude
To the editor,Bravo and congratulations to columnist G.C. Stoppel for daring to share your thoughts/observations on the topic of expressing gratitude!It seems like this “old-fashioned” courtesy has simply been discarded by the younger generation(s). “Just give me whatever, because I…
Letter to the Editor: More guns piece made no sense
To the editor,It seems that a day can no longer go by that I don’t get angry about the “More Guns” opinion piece (by publisher’s son and IT support person Jordan Wilcox) that ran in The Commercial Record recently.Oxford shows…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorSpace JunkAstronomers, reports The Daily Beast, can’t agree whether the “GN-z11 flash” was a gamma-ray burst from the universe’s infancy or reflected light off junk orbiting the earth.Last year a Chinese team working in Hawaii glimpsed something in…
Driver flees New Year’s crash
The driver of this rolled-over car New Year’s morning decided not to stick around for police and more to respond. “We were only six hours into 2022,” Saugatuck Township IT director Erik Kirchert reported, “when dispatched for a rolled over…
Douglas taps Toepper for council seat
By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas City Council Monday appointed Phil Toepper to fill the seat of resigned member and former Mayor Pat Lion until her term expires in November.After a 2-2-2 first-ballot tie between applicants Toepper, Demetrhea Terrien and Jeremiah Whiteley, council…
Ox-Bow to occupy old library
By Scott SullivanEditorOx-Bow will occupy the former Saugatuck-Douglas District Library building after Douglas City Council Monday agreed to lease the 137 W. Center St. structure to the Saugatuck art school for $1,200 monthly the next three years.An option to buy…
Sale of Palisades to take place once plant stops producing
Palisades to sell to Holtec once production stops on May 31The company that owns Palisades Nuclear Plant has received federal regulators’ approval to sell once the power plant stops production this year.The 811-megawatt plant, located on the shores of Lake…
Decatur McDonalds closes without much notice
Residents of Decatur were surprised as it’s recently been discovered that the McDonald’s located at 400 W Delaware St has closed indefinitely. Someone rolling through the drive-thru noticed a sign on the speaker informing residents of the closure and prompting…
Mike’s Musings: Politicians should spend time in private sector
Here’s a novel suggestion. Can we make it a requirement for those running for Congressional seats to spend a few years in the private sector?This idea was presented to me a few weeks ago, and the more I thought about…
Life as Performance Art
I read Mike Wilcox’s fa-ther’s reflections on small town life with delight.I grew up in a city of some 30,000. After ordination I moved to a church in a ham-let of 92 people, with one gas station, one grocery store,…
Obituary: A. James (Jim) Crandall
A. James (Jim) Crandall passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Dec. 29, 2021. Jim was born in Canton, Illinois in 1934, to George and Rose Crandall.On Sept. 20, 1958, Jim married the love of his life, Gayle Sousley,…
Area family starts foundation to honor deceased member
The Schincariol family of Lawton has announced an effort this year to raise money to purchase music lessons and instruments for area teens.“Our long-term goal is to provide teens of Southwest Michigan the tools and training to explore and develop…
Lawrence DDA to hold open house
LAWRENCE – The Village of Lawrence Downtown Development Association (DDA) will hold an open house, Tuesday, Jan. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Conquer Nutrition 106 W. St. Joseph St. The event will serve as an official greeting from the…
Road Commission issues snow plowing policy
LAWRENCE – Michigan’s first snowflakes have fallen, and before the state is feet-deep in snow, the Van Buren County Road Commission explains how it responds to winter storms, according to a press release from the road commission. There are over…
MDHHS to update quarantine guidelines
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will update its quarantine guidance for the general public to reflect the recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Notably, the CDC recommends a shortening…
Trip Advisor ranks Kal-Haven Trail the best – is it time to utilize it?
By Leslie Ballard Probably every person making their New Year’s resolutions last week listed exercise, weight loss or healthier living as one of their priorities, especially after packing on some Covid pounds. However, while getting on a treadmill and staring…
Omicron Variant identified in Van Buren County resident
LAWRENCE – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified Van Buren/Cass District Health Department that the Omicron variant has been identified in a Van Buren County resident.“It was only a matter of time until the Omicron variant…
Mike’s Musings: Politicians Should Spend Time in Private Sector
Here’s a novel suggestion. Can we make it a requirement for those running for Congressional seats to spend a few years in the private sector?This idea was presented to me a few weeks ago, and the more I thought about…
