John L. Swarts, age 76 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2022 at his home in Clare.  On June 12, 1946, John was born one of two sons to John and Elva (Wilson) Swarts at their family home…

Kenneth Leo Lyons, age 75, of Harrison passed away peacefully Friday, July 15, 2022, at his home under the care of Compassus Hospice.Per Ken’s wishes, cremation will take place and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later…

We’re going to talk turkey this week, and I don’t mean the tasty birds. We’re going to talk shingles, and here I do not mean the kind on your roof. I mean the “shingles doesn’t care” kind of shingles. Almost…

Stay busy, stay positive, and enjoy all of life’s blessings. That’s more or less how Winterfield Township residents Mark and Deb Hammer live life these days.After spending much of their careers working for Michigan Gas Storage, the couple has spent…

By John RaffelCorrespondent The unemployment figure in June for Osceola County, was at 4.7 percent,according to data released recently by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB).Figures for July are expected to be announced soon.Of the state’s 83…

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Osceola County commissioner Tim Michell said the board is continuing to work on the county’s 2023 calendar year budget.“Our fiscal year is January 1 to December 31,” Michell said. “We try to get it voted…

By John RaffelCorrespondent Gas prices have come down below $4 a gallon in Osceola and other neighboring counties with speculation it may or may not continue to decline.Triple A reported the national average was at $3.878 a gallon as of…

By Scott SullivanEditorRenaissance“Janice Bleil made a pile right in the middle of Belle Isle,” kids teased my mom growing up in 1940s Detroit, last name from a father she never saw.I saw 982-acre Belle Isle in 1984 crewing for Mitchell…

Pickleball’s popularity, per Sports and Fitness Industry Association spokesperson Laur Futterman, makes it the fastest-growing sport in America, as witness players such as the forehand-whacking aficianado pictured here on the eight courts at Douglas’s Schultz Park. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)

By Scott SullivanEditorNick Wikar has been fired as Douglas planner and zoning administrator, leaving both the city and neighbor Saugatuck seeking new help at that position.Wikar, who replaced Lisa Imus as planner/ZA in March 2020, left after an Aug. 15…

There are worse things than a dog’s life packed by a pet person to peruse Saugatuck’s Water Street. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor WAYLAND—The Wayland boys cross country team eked out a win by the slimmest of margins at the season-opening Wayland Mini Invite on Monday, Aug. 22.The buoyed by the winning effort of Devin Weaver (17:48), the Wildcats…

The Allegan girls swim & dive team came home with a 92-89 win over Portage Northern in its first meet of the season.Bella Festerling had the team’s only individual top honors, winning both the 50 and 100 freestyle, while also…

Of all the conditions or diseases, one might encounter, Alzheimer’s/dementia is in my opinion the worst.Many of us know a mother, father or a close relative that has suffered from this disease that saps almost all memory from a person.…

   Play, we are told, is the work of children.  Einstein wrote that when children play it is the beginning of all research. A classic example that philosophy might be the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  As a youngster his mother sat…

By Gari Voss 2022 Fiber FestivalThe weekend of August 20-21, 2002 really began on Wednesday for the 2022 Fiber Festival at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. That is when folks first arrived to participate in the first of 59 fiber arts…

Peggy Ann (Ruby) Dillon, age 90 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 12, 2022 at the Pioneer Golden Estates Assisted Living Facility of Clare surrounded by her loving family.  On January 26, 1932, Peggy was born one of three…

Arnold Lee “Bill” Newman, age 89 of Clare, (formerly of Frankenmuth) passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, just ten days shy of his 90th birthday, at Pioneer Golden Estates in Clare.  “Bill” was born the son of Ted and Arvilla Newman…

Jackson, Michigan – Betty Baker, of Jackson passed away Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Summit Park Assisted Living. She was 89.She was born on September 15, 1932, in Cadillac Michigan, to Oscar and Marguerite (Kent) Johnson. Betty was married to…

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent With the help of Clare Businessman Steve Letherer, the City will be able to begin the process to develop a third Industrial Park on the south side of the original Industrial Park.After the last lot in the…