Friends auction offers gifts to back library
The annual Friends of the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library Silent Auction returns Thursday, Nov. 6 through Nov. 20, offering donated gifts to help fund library programming. Among this year’s prizes is a carved wooden bowl by local artist Jim DeVries, made…
Master plan responses being weighed
By Scott Sullivan Editor Results of a Saugatuck city master plan survey conducted this August through Oct. 6 showed 386 respondents agree overwhelmingly that preserving existing neighborhood character should be a city priority. Other popular goals include maintaining: 1) A…
Park potty work near completion
Fall work continues at Saugatuck’s Mt. Baldhead Park, with new restroom concrete masonry unit almost complete while survey work continues on the upper platform and retaining walls. City manager Ryan Cummins updated his reports last week noting once Midwest Construction…
Galloping into fall
Douglas Elementary students celebrated Halloween on Halloween proper Friday, parading throughout the building and gym in front of appreciatively terrified parents, many of whom would later take the kids trick-or-treating through neighborhoods. Teachers dressed up to get in on the…
PHS presents ‘Back to the ‘80s’ this weekend
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Great music, iconic fashion statements and iconic dance moves brought to life.That, according to Hannah Sheikh, is what audiences members can expect when they come out to see Plainwell High School’s production of “Back to the…
Plainwell band places second at state finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor DETROIT—Refined.That’s the one word Plainwell High School band director David Hepinstall used to describe the PHS marching band’s performance at the Michigan Competing Band Association Flight IV State Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1.The judges on hand…
Saugatuck girls cross country places third at Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorBROOKLYN—So close, yet so far away.That has been a familiar refrain for the Saugatuck girls cross country team when it comes to the Trailblazers’ quest for a podium finish at the State Finals.And unfortunately for Saugatuck coach…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorChicken RunZoe Rosenberg faces up to five years in the pen for pilfering four chickens from a Perdue Farms poultry plant in Petaluma, Calif.Her defense team argued the University of California senior and animal activist rescued the birds…
City weighs input on master plan
By Scott SullivanEditorResults of a Saugatuck city master plan survey conducted this August through Oct. 6 showed 386 respondents agree overwhelmingly that preserving existing neighborhood character should be a city priority.Other popular goals include maintaining:1) A vibrant, strong and attractive…
Otsego’s Dennany selected for US Youth Soccer roster
Otsego junior Peyton Dennany is pretty good at soccer.How good, you ask? Well, she’s ranked 10th in the nation as a midfielder.And that earned her a coveted spot on the US Youth Soccer roster, giving her the opportunity to train…
Allegan volleyball partners with Gobles for Wings Home
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor High school sports, when done right, are about much more than wins and losses. They’re about teaching life lessons that the athletes can carry with them into adulthood.Such was the case for the volleyball programs from…
Mike’s Musings: Government shutdown can be averted- takes politicians to act instead of grandstand
Another week has passed, and much of our federal government remains shuttered. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay. National parks are closed, small business loans are on hold, and millions of Americans are…
Life as Performance Art
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, we observe Veterans Day. It is a “fixed” holiday, like Independence Day on July 4. These days do not move to the nearest Monday so we can have a long weekend; they are too important to…
Saugatuck voters return incumbents
BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck voters returned all three incumbents in a five-way race Tuesday, Nov. 4, to three available two-year seats on the city council. Current mayor Holly Anderson and councilman Joe Clark topped all comers with 240 votes each.…
Several events scheduled to remember veterans
By Gari Voss Fall provides several opportunities to remember veterans who served from the Revolutionary War to the present. Organizations across the county are working to make these holidays special. Veterans Day, November 11thGlenn Public School, 1394 Adams Rd, Glenn,…
Gobles ends outstanding football season
By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — In the first round of the MHSAA football playoffs, the Gobles Tigers (7-3) put up a fierce fight in a 72–62 loss against Climax-Scotts, showcasing a dominant rushing attack and balanced offense.Steven Juarez led the…
Soccer team state runnerup, loses to Country Day in finals
By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — It was a dream season for the South Haven Rams boys soccer team but ended up one win short.The Rams played at Grand Ledge’s Boyne Mountain complex on Saturday in the Division 3 title…
Copping to receive Governor’s Service Award
By James Windell South Haven has long recognized that Bob Copping is a gem of a citizen. Soon the rest of the state of Michigan will understand why he is regarded as a truly outstanding individual.On November 12, 2025, at…
Lake Arvesta to hold national championships in 2026
By James Windell Dawn Hinz says it didn’t take much persuading to convince Lake Arvesta Farms owner Brian DeBest to agree to host a triathlon last summer.However, the unqualified success of the triathlon, which attracted more than 300 athletes to…
“Fall in the Courthouse Celebration” brings community together
The third annual “Fall in the Courthouse Celebration” was held Friday, Oct. 31, at the Van Buren County Courthouse, 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw. It featured an afternoon filled with seasonal fun, community connection, and fall spirit. The…

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By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher
Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.
It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.





















