Road repairs, revenue shifts, and tight margins shape Albion’s 2026 budget talks
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion’s 2026 budget review began Dec. 1 with a study session. Council members worked through an 80-page draft budget and raised questions about changing revenue patterns, rising infrastructure costs, and the strain of road and…
Smiles and connections light up 2025 Albion Aglow Parade
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer Bundled up parade watchers braved 20 degrees F, while watching the children from Harrington Elementary School lead of this year’s Albion Aglow parade themed The North Pole. The bright lights of the floats revealed plenty…
Boys’ Basketball Roundup Three Rivers downed by Niles, Gull Lake; loses close to Hopkins
NILES — Three Rivers’ boys’ basketball team lost three in a row in the last week, losing to Niles 76-47 Friday, Dec. 5, losing to Gull Lake on the road 62-24 Monday, and losing a close 51-45 decision at home…
Out and About: Winter, holidays, and Christmas trees
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” ~ Will RogersHopefully this finds everyone doing what you can to stay warm and upright. With the recent snow storm, we are officially into the winter season. Flies and mosquitoes are…
Family Court to receive state grant for new Abuse and Neglect Court in county
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A new court in St. Joseph County coming next year is looking to tackle abuse and neglect cases in the county that have to do with substance use.On Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the…
Santa’s arrival marks holiday season at ‘Dashing Through Downtown’
The arrival of Santa Claus was among highlights for “Dashing Through Downtown,” which took place Dec. 4-6 in Sturgis. He arrived with escort from a Department of Safety fire truck, preceded by Sturgis High School’s marching band and flag team, starting…
George confirmed as principal of multiple pathways at SPS
Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education approved the hiring of Heather George as multiple pathways principal.In the role, George will oversee adult education in Centreville, Sturgis and Three Rivers; educational services at Juvenile Day Treatment (JDT) in Three Rivers; shared…
Family Court to receive state grant for new Abuse and Neglect Court in county
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A new court in St. Joseph County coming next year is looking to tackle abuse and neglect cases in the county that have to do with substance use.On Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the…
Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area
DECEMBERDec. 12Christmas market, 4-8 p.m., Radiant Life Church, Sturgis. Dec. 13Christmas market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Radiant Life Church, Sturgis. Live nativity, 5-7 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sturgis.Dec. 16 St. Joseph County Commission meeting, 5 p.m., historic courthouse, Centreville.Sturgis Planning Commission meeting, 5:30…
Fuller found guilty in Centreville pursuit/weapons case
Fuller found guilty in Centreville pursuit/weapons caseCENTREVILLE — A 34-year-old Three Rivers man was found guilty last week of 10 felony county arising from a March 2025 police pursuit and a subsequent discovery of drugs and illegal weapons.Caron Fuller was…
Clare wrestlers fall to Cadillac
By John Raffel Clare’s wrestling team lost to Cadillac 42-33 in wresting action on Dec. 3.For Clare against Cadillac,Kyle McGraw (120) beat Noah Follow 18-3 for a technical fall, Kennedy Boxx (126) pinned Emily Bown; Chris Green (157) lost 3-0…
May I Walk with You? THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
Recently, the father of one of my friends passed away on his way to a doctor’s appointment. In our conversation it occurred to us that his father had a doctor’s appointment that none of us gets to postpone and an…
Lake 13 with dredging equipment captured in photo
By Christopher Johnson Lake 13 is one of Mid Michigan’s many idyllic lake communities that define the milieu of lakefront country life. Fishing and ice fishing. Boating and boat parades, fireworks over the water. Scenic ambience with a side of…
Fire, slick roads keep emergency personnel busy
By Christopher Johnson Briarwood Apartments Reports of a possible structural fire were met with a swift response from the Clare Fire Department this past Friday. First responders arrived at Briarwood Manor at roughly 10 AM, equipped with several fire engines…
County communities offer holiday events this weekend
By Genine Hopkins Now that Mother Nature has all but ensured we are having snow this December 2025, get ready for all the great events coming up in Harrison, Clare, and Farwell to get ready for Christmas!Friday, December 12th is…
Saugatuck boys basketball drops games
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor After starting the season with a pair of road games, the Saugatuck boys basketball team played at home for the first time when it hosted Parchment on Monday, Dec. 8.Unfortunately, the home-court advantage didn’t translate into…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorKant Get EnoughI can’t “get” Kant. The German Immanuel Kant is considered one of the central figures of the Enlightenment. But I wish he’d enlighten me.In his 1781 “Critique of Pure Reason” Kant contends space and time are…
A parade of joy
Saugatuck’s annual Whootville Chrismas Parade bought out a large and fittingly festive crowd o marchers, including local Girl Scout Troop 80469, and spectators to downtown Saturday. See more photos by Scott Sullivan on Page .
Schools buy 50acres from church
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Saugatuck Public Schools district has bought 50 acres 50west of Community Church of Douglas on Wiley Road for $1.25 million and invites the community to take part in envisioning its uses.SPS superintendent Mark Neidlinger announced Monday the…
City eyes $1.5 million Elizabeth Street repairs
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council Monday approved paying engineers Fleis & Vandenbrink $32,000 to assist with an estimated $1.5 million in Elizabeth Street improvement project over the next two years.Work, as shown in the city’s capital improvements plan, will include…
