Obituary: Jackie Vasich
Jackie Vasich passed away peacefully at home on November 5, 2024, at the age of 81. Jackie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, known for her warm smile, generous spirit, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.…
Obituary: Vickie Vander Velpen
Vickie Vander Velpen, age 72, of Farwell passed away with her son and daughter-in-law by her side on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, under the care of McLaren Hospice after a long-fought battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia.In following with Vickie’s wishes,…
Obituary: Mildred “Millie” Vanacker
Mildred “Millie” Vanacker, age 93 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at the North Woods Nursing Center of Farwell. She was born the daughter of Carl and Hazel (Blake) Recker on February 5, 1931 on their family…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: I’ll never be a hunter
I can’t believe Deer Hunting (gun season) is only one week away now.I grew up in an honest to goodness hunting family.Dad taught me gun safety before there were classes for such things and I have very fond memories of…
May I Walk with You? WHERE ARE THE MEN?
In a conversation I had with a fellow teacher years ago, she lamented that all the good men had been taken. She was a single mom, with a young son, who was doing her best to hold down a teaching…
Rail – Trail Ribbon cutting held at Clare Depot
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent The highlight of Monday night’s City Commission meeting was a report, and pictures of the completion of the Pere’ Marquette Rail trail project, completing the ‘Clare Gap’ through the City.City Manager Jeremy Howard’s report to the Commission…
Farwell pastor charged with sexually assaulting youth
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent A months long investigation led to the arrest of a 57-year-old pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Farwell, Harold Norman Cole, Jr.The Clare County Sheriff’s Office got the report of Criminal Sexual Conduct second degree on…
Holiday Happenings around the area
Elvis at the VFWElvis Tribute Artist, Jake Slater, will be performing at the Clare VFW, 145 Wilcox Pkwy, on November 8th from 7-9pm! (call 989-386-7221 to purchase tickets). Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Ideal Theatre to provide…
Clare volleyball advances to district finals
By John RaffelCorrespondent BIG RAPIDS — Clare (17-15-2) extended its season by at least one more match on Wednesday.The Pioneers advanced to Thursday’s title match against Reed City with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-10 win over the Warriors (5-20) at Big…
Do you Need Help?
By Mike WilcoxPublisher We know that the holidays, “the most wonderful time of the year,” can actually be a bummer for some.We know that lack of essential food and clothing, not being able to buy meaningful Christmas gifts for your…
Familiar faces return to local offices
BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck voters returned three incumbents and added a former mayor to four open two-year city council seats in the Tuesday Nov. 5 election In Douglas, all four incumbents withstood two challengers, also for four available two-year seats.…
Saugatuck football gets past White Pigeon
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorWHITE PIGEON—Entering the fourth quarter of its Division 8 opening-round playoff game against White Pigeon on Friday, Nov. 2, coach Bill Dunn’s Saugatuck football team seemed to have the game well in hand.After all, the Trailblazers had…
Obituary: Lucy Kuipers
Lucy Kuipers of Holland died peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 28 in the company of her sister and granddaughter. She is preceded by her husband Glen, daughter Laura and mother Wilhelmina.“Grama Kuipers” was adored by 4…
Obituary: Robert Miller
Robert Miller, 49, of Oak Park, Ill. passed away on Oct. 15, 2024.Rob was born July 23, 1975 and grew up in Lapeer and Saugatuck. He was a band member from junior high through high school, graduating from Saugatuck in…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAll Things PassAh, joys of being a weekly print paper. We go to press on election Tuesdays long before polls close, so our Thursday-dated issues come out sans outcomes.Of course, readers who care can learn them on our…
Campaign finance complaint clouds city vote
Tuesday’s general election vote fell under late-breaking Michigan Board of Elections confirmation it was investigating the entity EPIC — which funded ads, signs and mailings for three Saugatuck City Council incumbents — based on a complaint about campaign-financing violations.The vote…
Saugatuck, Douglas to fete Veterans Day
Saugatuck will celebrate Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 11, in traditional fashion while Douglas will do something new.Members of Saugatuck American Legion Post 137 will parade from their 248 Mason St. hall down Butler Street to the Village Square Park Veterans…
Bulldogs for Bronson provides blankets for children
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Kids helping kids.That’s the basic concept behind Bulldogs for Bronson, a new after-school club at Otsego’s Washington Street Elementary School.Members of the club make fleece tie blankets and cards of encouragement to be donated to Bronson…
PHS woodshop students partner with Public Safety
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As the school resource officer for Plainwell Community Schools, Bob Farris acts as a liaison between the school district and the Plainwell Department of Public Safety.Being in this position allowed Farris to help facilitate a unique…
Saugatuck girls place 13th at Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BROOKLYN—Saugatuck girls cross country coach Angelina Bauer entered the Division 3 State Finals hoping her team could secure a top-10 finish.And while the Trailblazers fell a little short of that—they finished 13th with 353 points—Bauer was…
