DPW says concession stand, sidewalk fix will soon be completed
By John RaffelCorrespondent Department of Public Works supervisor Derek Wing said the sidewalk by the Methodist Church needs to be fixed. He added the work on the concession stands at the ballpark has begun and he expects it to be…
Marion schedules clean-up days for May 5,6
By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Discussion took place at the Marion Village Council earlier this month on a resident that has offered money to the village and fire departments.The resident wanted a list of things needed by the Village and…
Faces in the Crowd: Pastor Mike Leydet
In March of 2020, just days before the COVID pandemic started shutting down much of the country, Pastor Mike Leydet was preparing for his new role as pastor at Tustin’s First Baptist Church.After spending about 20 years in youth ministry…
Saugatuck expands Social District year-round
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Remember Saugatuck’s off-season Social District, launched two years ago to help licensed downtown alcohol-selling businesses to deal with indoor Covid-19 social distancing strictures? Now, as in neighbor Douglas, it will extend year-round. City council Monday agreed…
Douglas Easter festivities return Sunday
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Easter festivities will return to downtown Douglas this Sunday after two years off due to Covid-19 restrictions. Fun, sponsored by Ruoff Mortgages, will include a bonnet contest, parade and egg hunt in the downtown area. The…
Hutchins Lake marina hearing set
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR A developer’s marina proposal for Hutchins Lake two miles southwest of Fennville will be subject of a state online public hearing Monday, May 9, starting at 6 p.m. David DeGroot of the DeGroot Family is seeking…
Campbell work to cost cities more
BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Dig in, who knows what you’ll find? Such is the case with Campbell Road improvements being shared by Saugatuck and Douglas, project engineers say. Saugatuck’s council Monday approved the city’s additional $17,400 share of the $39,500…
Mistake from lest week
Last week’s story “City OKs plan for structure already built” was based on erroneous Douglas Planning Commission draft minutes posted by the city accidentally. The Dunes Resort did demolish a pool onsite lacking proper permits — because of a miscommunication…
Obituary: Thomas John Gaborik
Thomas John Gaborik of Hartford passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the young age of 47, at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, after a hard-fought battle with pneumonia. Thomas was born in St. Joseph, MI, to John…
Obituary: Raymond “Ray” Arndt
Raymond “Ray” Charles Arndt, 86, of Kalamazoo, began eternal life on March 27, 2022, in Hobe Sound, FL. Ray was born Dec. 15, 1935, in Madison, WI, the son of Frank Arndt and Helen (Feeney) Arndt.Ray attended St. Raphael’s Catholic…
Girls Track Preview:
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANCoach: Mike Chalupa (20th year)Returning letter winners: Lillie Barnhart (throws), sr.; Christa Lambert (throws), sr.; Hannah VandeVorren (throws), sr.; Sabrina Mills (high jump, sprints), jr.; Josie Navarro (distance), jr.Season outlook: Some people see the glass as…
Barr leads Plainwell soccer to victory
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—It might have been the Plainwell girls soccer team’s opening game of the season, but Kayla Bar appeared to be in mid-season form.Barr scored a pair of goals to lead the Trojans to the 3-0 victory…
Obituary-Linda VanderLaan
Linda Jane VanderLaan, age 81, of Fennville passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Douglas Cove Healthcare Center. Born to William and Virginia (Bierly) Lucus of Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 31, 1941. Linda was raised as the oldest of three daughters…
Colleges should focus on more practical, less theory
By Mike WilcoxPublisherI read a report a few days ago that lamented the decline in college enrollment in the state of Michigan, and the United States for that matter.Here, Central Michigan University was down nearly 50 percent over the past…
Life as Performance Art
By G. Corwin StoppelRobert “Bob” Ingersoll died just before the 20th century started and his name soon slipped into obscurity. Like his father, Congregationalist Rev. Robert Ingersoll, he was a target and magnet because of his outspoken and frequently unpopular…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorOops …We are all heirs to being human. Divine is another matter. Last week’s front page had not one but two stories sharing misinformation based on errant sources.As a journalist I can get away with, “I guarantee it…
Campbell Road work to cost cities more
By Scott SullivanEditorDig in, who knows what you’ll find? Such is the case with Campbell Road improvements being shared by Saugatuck and Douglas, project engineers say.Saugatuck’s council Monday approved the city’s additional $17,400 share of the $39,500 added engineering services…
Setting things straight …
Last week’s story “City OKs plan for structure already built” was based on erroneous Douglas Planning Commission draft minutes posted by the city accidentally.The Dunes Resort did demolish a pool onsite lacking proper permits — because of a miscommunication with…
Otsego Main Street receives $20,000 Vibrancy Grant
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorOn Wednesday, April 6, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that eight communities in Michigan had been selected to receive grants to support downtown enhancement and improvement projects.Otsego was among them.The eight…
