Letter to the Editor: Jordan is no Swift

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20221 min read

Editor,It didn’t take long for publisher Mike Wilcox’s son, Jordan, to catch blow back from his essay advocating universal gun ownership as a solution to gun violence.Of course, it’s a silly idea but I wonder if that might have been…

Dean Perry “Gooch” Balgoyen

Dean Perry “Gooch” Balgoyen

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Dean Perry “Gooch” Balgoyen, 56, of Allegan, MI passed away Saturday,December 25, 2021. Born May 18, 1965 in Plainwell, he was the son of the lateDean Peter Balgoyen and Ruthie (Harrington) Balgoyen and was the husband ofBarbara (Smith) Balgoyen. Perry…

Gary W. Emmons

Gary W. Emmons

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Gary W. EmmonsSeptember 24, 1948 – December 25, 2021 Gary W. Emmons, 73 of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021at his home. Born September 24, 1948 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was the son of thelate Glen and Marjorie…

Alice M. Johnson

Alice M. Johnson

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Alice M. Johnson passed away Thursday, December 30, 2021 at her home. Shewas born May 24, 1956 in Allegan; the daughter of the late Robert and Robenia(Burson) Johnson. The youngest of nine children, Alice was often referred to asthe “Baby”.…

Mary J. Knapp, 78

Mary J. Knapp, 78

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Mary J. Knapp passed away on December 27, 2021, at the age of 78. She was bornon November 24, 1943, to Orville and Beverly (Dewey) Hockett. Mary is survivedby her daughter Susan Knapp; her daughter-in-law Kelli Knapp; stepsons, AndyHitchcock, and…

Carol Ann Wiley, 71

Carol Ann Wiley, 71

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Carol Ann Wiley, 71 of Allegan, Michigan, passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021 at the Allegan County Medical Care Community. Born May 2, 1950 in Plainwell, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Irvin and Ethel (Fletcher) Fuller…

William Carl Stuenkel, 74

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

William Carl (Bill) Stuenkel, age 74, of Hollywood FL, passed away on November 25, 2021.Bill Stuenkel was born on December 10th, 1946, in Allegan, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University as a Civil Engineer. He worked for American Bridge…

COVID cases, deaths continue to mount in county

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20223 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — The number of COVID-19 cases in Allegan County posted by health department officials coming into this week was up to 20,764. Deaths rose by eight from a week ago to 280.Governor Whitmer announced in June…

Congregational Kitchen addresses hunger in five counties

Congregational Kitchen addresses hunger in five counties

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20226 min read

By Gari VossCorrespondent The food ministry began as a desire to extend a hand to those in need, and has grown from a church kitchen to a distribution center that not only supplies food for the Congregation Kitchen dinners each…

Faces in the Crowd: What are your resolutions for the coming year?

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20223 min read

By G C Stoppel Do people still make New Year’s Resolutions, or is it a now dead tradition?  For those of us who are still doing it, the question of the week:  What are your resolutions for the coming year?-Man at a gas…

Comic book store latest business to open in downtown

Comic book store latest business to open in downtown

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20224 min read

By Leslie Ballard “Awesome! Can’t wait for it to open up!” and “Yes!!! Yes!! Yes!!!” are just some of the enthusiastic reactions to the Facebook announcement about Tardy’s Underground Comics & Collectibles opening its doors at 228 1/2 Trowbridge Street…

Commission chair critical of redistricting map

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Allegan County Board of Commissioners chairman Jim Storey isn’t a big fan of the new congressional map.“The so-called Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission completed its apparent goal to obliterate county lines when it adopted state…

Fennville to seek four mills for police, fire

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20222 min read

Fennville to seek 4 mills for police, fire rising costsThe Fennville City Commission decided Monday, Jan. 3, to seek a 4-mill request for public safety in a special May election to cover rising police, fire and ambulance costs.“The public safety…

Revelers ring in New Year on the riverfront

Revelers ring in New Year on the riverfront

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20221 min read

On New Year’s Eve in Allegan, no matter where a reveler stood along the Riverfront, the midnight drop of the 10’6” NYE Ball decorated with 30,000 synchronized LED lights was clearly visible. Crowds began gathering by 8pm and grew until…

Allegan – 2021 successes; 2022 hopes

Allegan – 2021 successes; 2022 hopes

Editorial StaffJan 5, 20226 min read

By Gari Voss Though 2021 was not the best of times for any community, the City of Allegan can reflect back on a year of rising from the COVID pandemic to discover some bright spots. A trifecta of Allegan business…

COVID hospitalizations increasing quickly

Editorial StaffJan 4, 20223 min read

COVID Hospitalizations Increasing QuicklyOn Christmas Day, only 10 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in our East Alabama Health system. Today, less than a full week later, our COVID hospitalizations are at 34, the highest total since October 6. Furthermore, our…

Fireworks ring in New Year

Fireworks ring in New Year

Editorial StaffJan 4, 20221 min read

Pamela HollowayFireworks ring in new yearDespite the rainy weather citizens of LaFayette, celebrated the 2022 New Year with an abundance of fireworks lighting the sky.

Chambers County schools return to mask mandates

Editorial StaffJan 4, 20221 min read

This week the Chambers County School District is reinstating its mask mandate amid concerns of rising COVID-19 cases.Chambers County Board of Education released this statement:“Due to the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases in Chambers County School District, we will…

Shaver arrested for Dodgen Logging theft

Shaver arrested for Dodgen Logging theft

Editorial StaffJan 4, 20221 min read

Last Tuesday, Dec. 28, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office responded to Dodgen logging in the area of Chambers County Road 62 and Chambers County Road 53 in regard to a burglary and theft of property. Jeff Dodgen offered a $1,000…

Lanett City Council honors Jackson on 95th

Lanett City Council honors Jackson on 95th

Editorial StaffJan 4, 20221 min read

By John West Mrs. Jo Frances House Jackson of Lanett was honored for her 95th birthday on Monday evening by the Lanett City Council. Mrs. Jackson was surrounded by family as Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard read a proclamation and presented…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239