Football Season Preview:

Editorial StaffAug 20, 202518 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANSullivan Garvin stands out on a football field … and just about everywhere else.It’s hard not to when you check in at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds.A senior lineman for Allegan, Garvin will continue his gridiron career…

Otsego girls golf opens season with record-setting effort

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GOBLES—Talk about starting the season on a high note.Hosting the Shamrock Invitational at Shamrock Hills Golf Club on Friday, Aug. 15, the Otsego girls golf team posted a team score of 357 to tie Harper Creek…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20256 min read

Life as Performance Art: Joan AndersonG C Stoppel     Joan Anderson died on the 14th of July this year at the age of 101.  I suspect her name is hardly familiar anymore, but she was perhaps the greatest social influencer in…

Mike’s Musings: Why So Many Michiganders Under 30 Can’t Afford a House

Mike’s Musings: Why So Many Michiganders Under 30 Can’t Afford a House

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20253 min read

The dream of homeownership, once a clear stepping stone into adulthood, now feels like a mirage for many Michiganders under 30. Despite living in a state often touted for its affordability, structural barriers have erased much of the margin that…

Local teen ready for Allegan County Fair Rodeo

Local teen ready for Allegan County Fair Rodeo

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20253 min read

By Gari Voss The Flying Star Rodeo will be at the Grandstand of the Allegan County Fair on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, beginning at 7pm. Waiting for his time to enter the bull riding chute will be Ashton Prolo, a…

Paw Paw tennis team stops West Catholic

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20253 min read

By John Raffel PAW PAW — Paw Paw’s boys tennis team defeated Grand Rapids West Catholic 5-3 in recent action.SinglesNo. 1 – Kyle Carpenter, Grand Rapids West Catholic def. Terrance Fisher, Paw Paw, 6-0, 6-0.No. 2 – Eric Fitchpatrick, Paw…

South Haven salutes veterans with flotilla, band, large crowd

South Haven salutes veterans with flotilla, band, large crowd

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20251 min read

by Jim Windell, The South Haven fishing community took Veterans out on Lake Michigan for the morning. Returning with their catch, they were greeted at noon by a flotilla of boats led by the SHAES fireboat. A large American flag floated…

Community Recreation Director hired for South Haven

Community Recreation Director hired for South Haven

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20253 min read

By James Windell Although the South Haven City Council approved hiring a Community Recreation Director, it wasn’t until June, 2025 that the council approved making it a fulltime position with benefits.Scott Reinert, South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) Administrator, thought…

South Haven Planning Commission approves Master Plan

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20253 min read

By James Windell When the South Haven City Hall City Council Chambers are packed for a Planning Commission meeting, you can assume two things: One, this will not be a brief meeting; two, there will be controversy.This was the case…

National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out attracts many to Paw Paw

National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out attracts many to Paw Paw

Editorial StaffAug 20, 20254 min read

“It was a good turnout for National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out in South Haven and Paw Paw. A huge thank you to the community for coming out and all the continued support, it’s appreciated more than you know,”…

Police seek Antonio Green as suspect in death of Mia Sims

Police seek Antonio Green as suspect in death of Mia Sims

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20253 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer Antonio Treyvonne Green has been identified but is still at large regarding the death of 18-year-old Mia Sims on July 27 in Jackson. City of Jackson Chief of Police, Christopher Simpson, and Jackson County Prosecuting…

Albion debates future of Washington Gardner: Attainable housing or tax revenue priority?

Albion debates future of Washington Gardner: Attainable housing or tax revenue priority?

Editorial StaffAug 15, 202510 min read

By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Taxes were on the minds of some property owners at Albion’s City Council study session about Washington Gardner School on Monday, Aug. 11. For others, housing concerns took priority. Mayor Victoria Garcia-Snyder called the meeting…

HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK

HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20253 min read

By Frank Passic SHELDON BLOCK IS DOWNTOWN ALBION LANDMARK             Recently you may have observed the building that presently houses Parks Pharmacy in downtown Albion at 318 S. Superior St. is being repainted along with some necessary repairs. This is…

More PCE testing approved at county jail

More PCE testing approved at county jail

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20256 min read

Updated 12:02 p.m. Aug. 19, 2025 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Following initial environmental tests at the St. Joseph County Jail, there will soon be more tests conducted there for a harmful contaminant.During their Executive Committee meeting Monday, St.…

Out and About: Open House, pets, and quotes

Out and About: Open House, pets, and quotes

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20252 min read

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” -Emily PostA reminder about the Open House, Saturday, August 23, at American Legion Hice-Shutes Post…

Incident involving unresponsive person being investigated in Lockport Twp.

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20251 min read

LOCKPORT TWP. — The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after finding an unresponsive individual in Lockport Township Tuesday.Deputies were dispatched Tuesday to the 17000 block of South River Road for a report of an…

U.S. 12 resurfacing project nears conclusion in Sturgis

U.S. 12 resurfacing project nears conclusion in Sturgis

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20254 min read

By Dennis Volkert Michigan Department of Transportation’s resurfacing of U.S. 12 in Sturgis is nearing completion.All major elements are finished. Within the past week, pavement markings were finished.Among final details is installation of traffic signal loops to return the sequence…

First ‘engagement session’ held for Sturgis schools strategic plan

First ‘engagement session’ held for Sturgis schools strategic plan

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20252 min read

Sturgis Public Schools on Aug. 6 held a “community engagement session” at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.It was the first of an expected three-session process to develop a student-centered bond proposal.According to superintendent Art Ebert, 110 people attended session 1.Attendees…

Commission approves Sturgis fiscal-year budget Support to continue recycling program received from numerous residents

Editorial StaffAug 15, 20252 min read

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday held a public hearing regarding the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. After city manager Andrew Kuk provided an extensive overview of notable items on the budget, the commission approved adoption of the budget summary,…

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