Meridian too much for Farwell in JPC battle

Meridian too much for Farwell in JPC battle

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 2 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer Farwell had hoped to pull off an upset over visiting Meridian on Thursday, Jan. 6. The Eagles were unable to make a serious run at the Mustangs though, dropping the Jack Pine Conference boys basketball game,…

McBain girls get road win at Shepherd

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 1 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer The McBain girls basketball team left conference play to take on host Shepherd Monday night. The results were the same though, as the Lady Ramblers kept their perfect record intact with a convincing 69-32 victory.It was…

NMC girls roll at Evart

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 1 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer The McBain Northern Michigan Christian girls basketball team was able to have their way with host Evart on Thursday, Jan. 6. The Lady Comets downed the Lady Wildcats 50-33 in Highland Conference play.NMC played to an…

McBain drops close one

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 2 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer They continue to get closer to the outcome they want, but the McBain boys basketball team is still searching for their first win of the season; this after a narrow 39-38 setback at Pine River Friday…

Clare wrestlers win two in JPC

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 1 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer The Clare wrestling team opened up the Jack Pine Conference portion of their schedule on Tuesday, at Gladwin. The Pioneers were able to pick up two wins, taking down Farwell 78-0 and Gladwin 47-32.Clare has a…

Coleman boys back on track with win

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 1 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer The Coleman boys basketball team snapped a four game losing streak Monday night. The Comets, playing at Merrill in a Mid-State Activities Conference game, were able to pick up a 65-50 victory.“Great team win, we dominated…

Coleman girls win twice, now 5-1

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2022 2 min read

by Ben MurphySports Writer The Coleman girls basketball team was able to put themselves right in the thick of the Mid-State Activities Conference race Monday night. The Lady Comets were able to dethrone the defending league champs, 50-45, in what…

Blue Star event center eyes June opening

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Owners of Holland’s Port 393 plan this June to open a new Ivy House event center on the 7-acre former Bloomin’ on Blue Star garden center at 3291 Blue Star Hwy. “Ivy House,” said Candice Grant,…

White named Saugatuck project manager

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 3 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Deputy Clerk Kate White has a new job in Saugatuck City Hall: Project Manager. White, who started there as a graduate student and summer intern June 14, 2021, never left, advancing to deputy clerk responsible for,…

Longtime Butler Owner Had Vivid Life

Longtime Butler Owner Had Vivid Life

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 7 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Patti Beery is blessed and cursed with the legacy of her father Verse White, who died Dec. 10 at age 90 after owning The Butler restaurant … well, forever. Blessed because his story is rich, cursed…

Obituary: Phyllis Cassady

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

Phyllis Cassady, 94 Phyllis Evelyn Cassady (Haraburda) of Douglas passed away Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 in Holland Hospital. She was born Feb, 14, 1927 (Valentine’s Day) in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Stanley and Marie (Anuskiewicz) Haraburda. Mom graduated from Sacred…

Crash Corner

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 5 min read

Are Blue Star lights warranted? BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR A traffic analysis conducted by Allegan County Road Commission consultants shows traffic volumes may warrant signal lights at corners of Blue Star Highway and Old Allegan Road, aka “Crash Corner,” and…

Law Enforcement Appreciation

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 7 min read

SPORTS EDITOR When students arrived at Dix Street Elementary School in Otsego on Monday, Jan. 9, they were greeted by officers from the Otsego Police Department and the Michigan State Police. In addition to saying “hello” to the officers, several…

Allegan County COVID cases pass 21,000

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 3 min read

By John Raffel Correspondent ALLEGAN — The number of COVID-19 cases in Allegan County posted by health department officials coming into this week was up to 21,376. Deaths rose by eight from a week ago to 287. Governor Whitmer announced…

Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections

Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 8 min read

By Gari Voss The new district boundaries were approved by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) on December 28, 2021 in an 8 to 5 vote. This was the first time Michigan utilized an independent redistricting commission since the…

MI Supreme Court Appoints Kengis to Replace Bakker

MI Supreme Court Appoints Kengis to Replace Bakker

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

By Gari Voss The Michigan Supreme Court made their current appointments to the courts across the state. The Allegan County decisions included the new appointment of the Honorable Roberts A. Kengis as chief justice of the 48 th Circuit Court,…

Obituary: Dennis Edward Orweller

Obituary: Dennis Edward Orweller

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

Dennis Edward Orweller October 31, 1942 – January 1, 2022 Dennis Edward Orweller, 79, of Allegan, Michigan, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Dennis was…

Obituary: Eva Mae (Soughton) Belden

Obituary: Eva Mae (Soughton) Belden

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

Eva Mae (Stoughton) Belden, 94, of Allegan, MI passed away Monday, January 3, 2022 at Vicinia Gardens in Otsego. Born January 7, 1927 in Otsego, she was the daughter of the late Morris and Audrey (Edson) Stoughton. On July 4,…

Obituary: William Roger McPherson

Obituary: William Roger McPherson

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 2 min read

McPherson, William Roger Otsego, MI PHOTO: AGE: 75 Family, friends, employees, and the manufacturing community grieve the loss of a wonderful man and a true pioneer in the bonded magnet industry. On the morning of January 5, 2022, William Roger McPherson…

Obituary: Dorla Jean Woodward

Editorial Staff Jan 12, 2022 4 min read

Dorla Jean Woodward – AGE 91 – Otsego, MI Watson Township On December 24, 2021, at the home of her beloved daughter, Glenda, Dorla Jean Woodward passed peacefully from this world. On January 24, 1930, the world welcomed Dorla Jean…

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.