Obituary: Mrs. Elaine Estes Brown

Obituary: Mrs. Elaine Estes Brown

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

RIDGE GROVE – Mrs. Elaine Estes Brown, 73, of Ridge Grove died Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika.Funeral services are planned for Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at 3 p.m. CDT at Center Baptist Church in…

Obituary: Mrs. Marlene Williams

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

Mrs. Marlene Williams, 91, of Lawrenceville, GA (formerly of LaFayette) died Sunday, September 17, 2023, at her residence. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Powell Chapel United Methodist Church, 100 3rd Place NE, LaFayette, AL…

Rebels control both sides of the ball in win over Bessemer

Rebels control both sides of the ball in win over Bessemer

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20233 min read

Tyson Hewitt dives for extra yardage in the Rebels’ 45-10 win over Bessemer. Academy. Photo by Taphne Nelson By Katie McElvy The Chambers Academy Rebels finally returned home on Friday after a long stint on the road to face 3A…

GVACC honors several LaFayette businesses

GVACC honors several LaFayette businesses

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20231 min read

Emerging Business of the Year Blue Button Quilts & Embroidery Small Business of the Year Dori Harmon Agency, LLC Business of the Year, Farmers and Merchants Bank and JC Colley. Pictured is Stanley Tucker, president of Farmers and Merchants Retail…

CCSD receives judge’s approval to build new high school in Valley

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20236 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent In the case of Lee v. Chambers County Board of Education which was presided over and ultimately ruled upon by U.S. District Court Judge W. Keith Watkins this past June, a detailed ruling was released on Friday,…

Maggie’s Pantry

Maggie’s Pantry

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

By Maggie ConklinEasy Stuffed DuckThe family story goes one long-ago night my parents were eating at a fine restaurant with some Dad’s business customers, Mom’s cousin Bob and lifelong friend Margaret.Mom Milley lectured Bob all afternoon long about how to…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20234 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaddling UpHe saddled up to the bar and gritted through rotted cuspids, bicuspids, incisors …“Aren’t you s’posed to sidle?” asked Zeke the Barkeep.“Buck you,” he spat through his bridge, spitting bloody Chiclets square into bullseyes of 12 dartboards.…

The Art Thing voting runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7

The Art Thing voting runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20233 min read

Last year’s The Art Thing reception took place at Mezzo Coffee House. Due to growth of the event, this year’s reception is taking place at the Otsego District Library, where the artwork will be displayed. (Photos provided) By Jason WesseldykSports…

Will historic tug Reiss be scrapped?

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20236 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorLast rites may loom for the historic Reiss tugboat when, per a classified listing last week, current owner Steve Horn hopes to sell it for scrap, cash only, Oct. 3Built in 1913 the tug, then named the Q.A.…

Otsego cross country hosts second City Championship elementary race

Otsego cross country hosts second City Championship elementary race

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20234 min read

Students from Dix Street Elementary School prepare for the start of the City Championship cross country race. (Photo by Jason Wesseldyk) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the second year in a row, Otsego Public Schools hosted the City Championship cross…

Gilkey Elementary adds new book vending machine

Gilkey Elementary adds new book vending machine

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

Gilkey reading specialist Chad Boender is seen with third-grade student Avery. (Photo by Jason Wesseldyk) Ransom District Library director Joe Gross reads to a class at Gilkey Elementary School. (Photo by Jason Wesseldyk) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Friday, Sept.…

Plainwell honors police officers

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PLAINWELL – The Plainwell City Council was set to honor several officers for their accomplishment at Monday night’s meeting of this week.The Council was set to consider setting a public hearing for Oct. 23, 2023 at 7 p.m.…

Otsego cross country teams extend league winning streaks

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor EDWARDSBURG—The streaks continue for the Otsego girls and boys cross country teams.The Otsego girls upped their Wolverine Conference winning streak to 84 with victories over Edwardsburg (15-50) and Three Rivers (17-46) on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The…

Fennville cancels last five weeks of varsity football

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20233 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor FENNVILLE—There will be no more Friday night lights in Fennville for the remainder of the 2023 football season.Fennville High School athletic director Wendall Hughes III announced on Tuesday, Sept. 19, that the district had made the…

Saugatuck throttles Coloma

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20233 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SAUGATUCK—On paper, the SAC crossover football game pitting host Saugatuck against visiting Coloma looked like a mismatch.After all, the Trailblazers entered the game at 4-0, while the Comets were 0-4.And it quickly became apparent that this…

Obituary: Annabelle Elaine (Crowell) Samuelson

Obituary: Annabelle Elaine (Crowell) Samuelson

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20233 min read

March 29, 1921-September 16, 2023 Annabelle was born in Bloomingdale Michigan, the daughter of John Delbert and Cora Blaine Wright Crowell.  Her family moved to Allegan when she was five and it remained her home the rest of her life. …

Obituary: Lewis (Louie) Jesse Hitchcock

Obituary: Lewis (Louie) Jesse Hitchcock

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

Lewis (Louie) Jesse Hitchcock, 92, passed away peacefully, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Allegan hospital, surrounded by his family. Born Sept. 24, 1931 to Leo and Helen(Walker) Hitchcock. He was married to the love of his life, Laura E. Butcher,…

Prom night, Oktoberfest highlight weekend activities

Prom night, Oktoberfest highlight weekend activities

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20232 min read

The weekend of Sept. 22 began with a real Prom Night on the Riverfront with attendees dressed to the 9s! Before dusk, the Riverfront offered places for couples to enjoy food, drink, and friends. Couple had their pictures taken by…

Dorr Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School

Dorr Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20234 min read

The Dorr Elementary staff received the news on Sept. 19, 2023, that Dorr Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. The award is given to schools that demonstrate overall academic progress among…

Deputy recovering after fight with man who wanted him dead

Editorial StaffSep 27, 20231 min read

The Allegan County deputy who was injured last week while trying to make an arrest was discharged from the intensive care unit this week, the sheriff said.The deputy was transferred to an area hospital to undergo additional treatment and physical…