Otsego’s Smith capture two more state championships

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor YPSILANTI—People collect all sorts of things, like baseball cards, stamps, coins and rocks.Otsego junior Liam Smith? He collects state championships.In the Division 3 Boys Swim & Dive State Finals on Saturday, March 15, Smith won both…

Softball Season Preview:

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20256 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANAfter the Allegan softball team saw its 2024 season ended early due to a lack of healthy players, the Tigers are back for the 2025 campaign.And coach Luis Perez has some high hopes for this year’s…

Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead Fishing

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20251 min read

Every March, large numbers of steelhead fish spawn in the Kalamazoo river, and fishermen flock to the area. Couple that with last week’s bout of 50, 60 degree temperatures, and it produces this picture – Fisherman packed in like sardines…

Allegan County Sheriff’s Office 2025 Annual Awards

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

By Piper Raab On the evening of Monday, March 3rd, the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office hosted their Annual Awards Ceremony for 2024, at the Martin High School Auditorium.  There were 35 Deputies, in all, that received special recognition and honor…

Sheriff’s office investigates fatality in Leighton Twp

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent On Monday, March 17, around 7:30 p.mm, Allegan County Central Dispatch received a call for a serious traffic crash in the 4700 Block of 7th St in Leighton Township. Preliminary investigation shows a south bound SUV left the roadway…

Hoekstra nominated to be Canada ambassador

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — Former U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who lives in AlleganCounty, is the President’s nominee to be Ambassador to Canada. Hoekstra appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations committee last week for a confirmation hearing.“In his opening statement,…

Three Gobles players receive honors

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — Three Gobles players received all-conference honors this season.Picking up first-team honors were junior Jayden Otis who averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and Aden Newberry who was at 11 points and nine boards…

Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada

Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20253 min read

President Trump likes to say his favorite word is “tariff.” He hopes to use the word to force corporations to locate in the United States, instead of other countries where they have tax and trade advantages. More corporations mean more…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20256 min read

BY G.C. STOPPELFew hold party politics and politicians in high esteem. Campaigns grow longer and more expensive and polarization fiercer. Consensus and compromise are no longer goals; they are dirty words.The last presidential election was packed with negative ads and…

South Haven gets new water storage tank

South Haven gets new water storage tank

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20251 min read

South Haven’s new million gallon concrete water storage tank is rising out of the ground.When completed in 2026, it will replace a crumbling century–old tank located on Blue State Memorial Highway.The new tank is located near the City of South…

New Condos planned for downtown South Haven

New Condos planned for downtown South Haven

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20253 min read

By James Windell Plans for three new condominiums in downtown South Haven are gaining momentum.A proposed project by local developers Locker & Locker Properties LLC to construct three condominiums on the upper floor of the building that houses The Shoe…

Finally, STR ordinance approved by City Council

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

By James Windell The City of South Haven has its first revised Short-term Rental ordinance since 2018. The South Haven City Council approved a much-debated ordinance at its meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.But getting there wasn’t easy.In 2018, the…

BOC to seek $3 million grant for 9-1-1 center

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…

Stolen vehicle recovered, felon found in possession of firearms

Stolen vehicle recovered, felon found in possession of firearms

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20252 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW TWP. – A stolen vehicle was recovered, in addition to several guns and ammunition, while a felon was found to be in possession of firearms, following an incident that occurred Friday, March 14, in…

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

MATTAWAN – Monday, March 10, marked a historic milestone for Mattawan Consolidated Schools as the district broke ground on the first phase of a comprehensive, multi-year school construction project. This initiative follows the approval of a $110 million dollar school…

BOC hopes to get $3 million grant for dispatch/emergency center

Editorial StaffMar 19, 20254 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…

Mendon girls bounced in regionals by Reading

Editorial StaffMar 14, 20252 min read

By Steve Eldridge CONCORD —It was a tough finish to the season for the Mendon girls after winning a district championship last week. The Lady Hornets traveled to Concord Monday night, squaring off against the Reading Rangers in their regional…

Out and About: Clocks, family entertainment, and travel season

Out and About: Clocks, family entertainment, and travel season

Editorial StaffMar 14, 20253 min read

By now everyone should have their clocks set to the correct time. You’ll notice that you are probably getting up in the dark and watching the sunset around 7 PM. It would be nice if this could have been the…

TR DDA to apply for vibrancy grant for Historical Society project

TR DDA to apply for vibrancy grant for Historical Society project

Editorial StaffMar 14, 20254 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority will be seeking funding from the state for a proposed project headed by the St. Joseph County Historical Society.At its meeting Thursday, March 6, the DDA unanimously…

Former secretary who embezzled nearly 30K from Clark Logic, charged with embezzling again from Paw Paw Public Schools

Former secretary who embezzled nearly 30K from Clark Logic, charged with embezzling again from Paw Paw Public Schools

Editorial StaffMar 14, 20253 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In March 2024, 33-year-old Danielle Taylor was convicted of embezzling nearly $30,000 from Clark Logic, a multi-faceted company with a significant presence and origins in Three Rivers.Taylor would take in customers’ credit cards and instead of paying…