Iva B. Sweet, 86

Iva B. Sweet, 86

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20222 min read

Iva B. Sweet was born November 6, 1935 to the late Russell and Donna Wesseling in Allegan, MI. She graduated from Allegan High School and for a time worked at DeLano Printing and Allegan General Hospital. She married her husband,…

Patrick T. “Pat” McLaughlin, 83

Patrick T. “Pat” McLaughlin, 83

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20222 min read

Pat passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at his home in Martin. He was born June 30, 1938, in Lake Odessa, the son of Paul and Mabel (Weber) McLaughlin. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He worked…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20226 min read

    For several years I was an adjunct college history instructor. On the first day of class, after the initial introductions and small talk, I would always ask for a show of hands from those who truly liked history.  If I was…

We can’t ignore Fentanyl any longer

We can’t ignore Fentanyl any longer

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20223 min read

Made in China, transported by Mexico, fentanyl has risen to the top of the opioid chain as the leading cause of drug deaths in America. Unfortunately our leaders seem to be consumed with other situations, ie Covid and war, so…

Crowds gather on riverfront to enjoy festivities

Crowds gather on riverfront to enjoy festivities

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20222 min read

By Leslie Ballard The July 3 Jubilee was quite a success judging by the crowds swarming the riverfront to enjoy the music, visit the food trucks and vendors, take advantage of the social district, and enjoy the zip line and…

Vigil held as Joseph Nagel’s mom still awaiting news

Vigil held as Joseph Nagel’s mom still awaiting news

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20224 min read

By Gari Voss The evening of Thursday, June 30, 2022 was beautiful, but the air was somber as family, friends and adamant supporters of Joseph Maverick Nagle gathered in his memory on 26th Street north of 134th Avenue in Monterey…

Who are the Homeless in Allegan County?

Editorial StaffJul 6, 20228 min read

By Leslie Ballard Who are the homeless in southwest Michigan? It’s not the man standing on the intersection corner with the sign asking for help.It’s typically a single parent with three children, the oldest of whom is 7 years old.It’s…

Obituary: Robert Harold Beacom

Obituary: Robert Harold Beacom

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20223 min read

Robert Harold “Bob” Beacom, 92, of Clare, died June 26, 2022, at Pioneer Golden Estates. Bob was born to Harold and Ruth (Clegg) Beacom on October 13, 1929, in Pickford, in the U.P. He was very proud of his hometown…

Obituary: Juanita Irene Wilson

Obituary: Juanita Irene Wilson

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

Juanita Irene Wilson, age 91, of Marion and formerly of Marshall, passed away on June 26, 2022 at the home of her daughter in Marshall. Juanita was born on May 28, 1931 to Charles B. and Thelma E. (Willoughby) Emerson…

Obituary: Annette Judy Curns

Obituary: Annette Judy Curns

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

Annette Judy Curns age 79 of Harrison passed away Sunday, June 27, 2022, at MyMichigan Health, Midland, Michigan. Annette was born January 7, 1943, in Frost Township, Clare County, Michigan, the daughter of Myles R. and Irene (Blain) Henry. Judy…

Obituary: Scott Alan Murton

Obituary: Scott Alan Murton

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

Scott Alan Murton, 66, of Decatur, Michigan, passed away Sunday June 26, 2022 at his home.He was born September 22, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Curtis Murton and M. Jane (Bicknell) Murton.Scott enjoyed spending his younger years traveling…

Obituary: Ronald Thomas Shilling

Obituary: Ronald Thomas Shilling

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

Ronald Thomas Shilling passed away June 23, 2022, at his home in Weidman.  Born July 30, 1941, he was the son of Thomas & Marguerite (Martin) Shilling. Ron married the love of his life, his partner in crime and best friend Barbara…

Summerfest was a hit in Clare

Summerfest was a hit in Clare

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20221 min read

Clare Chamber Director Dave Coker posted, “We are wrapping up all the detail on an amazing Summerfest! We were able to give away several hundred free ice cream cones, Our Community After Hours at the Doherty House had perfect weather…

No fireworks in Clare this year, but Harrison has them

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Due to a shipping issue, Clare did not have a fireworks display as part of the Summerfest celebration this year, but those who love to watch the annual display in the sky for the Fourth of July…

Drunk crashes through barricades in downtown Clare

Drunk crashes through barricades in downtown Clare

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent An inebriated Cincinnati man crashed his northbound Denali into a 2,500-pound cement barricade blocking the downtown Clare area around 4:35 a.m. Saturday and pushed the barricade about a block through signs rerouting traffic, tents and other things…

Postcard from the Pines: Have a Lake George Kind of 4th

Postcard from the Pines: Have a Lake George Kind of 4th

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20226 min read

It’s the 4th of July in the Great North! Light your sparklers and make some S’mores! This is summer as good as it gets here in Marion, Michigan. Of course, the best is yet to come when we celebrate Marion’s…

Faces in the Crowd: Krissta Major

Faces in the Crowd: Krissta Major

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20224 min read

Family and Family Dollar.That sums up a big part of Krissta Major’s life. As Assistant Manager of Marion’s Family Dollar/Dollar Tree store, Krissta enjoys working with a great group of coworkers. She also enjoys helping locals shop for great bargains.After…

Council to contribute funds for Fair electric poles

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – The Marion Village Council, at its meeting earlier this month, voted to pay the Marion Fair Board $850 for one-third of the cost of replacing the electric poles with boxes.The board was told the board…

Marion Schools to hire fulltime liaison officer

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Marion Board of Education voted to hire a full time liaison officer at the school board meeting last Tuesday (June 28).“This officer will be a deputy from Osceola County,” superintendent Danyel Prielipp said. “The school…

Missaukee divvies out ARPA funds

Editorial StaffJul 1, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAKE CITY – The Missaukee County American Rescue Plan (ARPA) committee met on Tuesday to discuss the distribution of ARPA funds. Jennifer Burkholder, Merritt Community Development Association, wanted to adjust their request to $8,000 which more accurately…