13-year-old suspect held in the shooting death of a 16-year-old
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer A late breaking press release from the City of Jackson Police Department confirms the first murder of the year has occurred: on Jan. 15, at approximately 1 a.m., in the 500 block of Harris Street,…
Winter Storms Highlight Albion’s Public Works Challenges and Changes
By Maggie LaNoue The snowstorm that hit Albion around New Year’s brought more than icy roads and cold temperatures — it also put the city’s winter operations and aging snowplow fleet under a public spotlight. At the Jan. 5 Albion…
Montez White arraigned in Anthony Owens murder case
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer After being apprehended in Ohio, Montez Martees White was arraigned Jan. 14 by District Court Magistrate Jake Dickerson on charges of open murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder, and felony firearm. According…
Hayes Block Reopens, Linking Albion’s Past and Future
On Monday, December 30, 2025, Albion residents were invited inside one of downtown’s most recognizable historic buildings during a public tour of the newly completed Hayes Block Apartments at 106–108 E. Erie Street. The open house offered a first look…
Spring Arbor Police and Fire Departments rescue dog from pond
Quick thinking and inter-agency coordination between the Spring Arbor Township Police Department and Spring Arbor Township Fire Department led to the successful rescue of a dog that fell through ice on a private pond earlier this week. According to a…
Saugatuck boys come up short against Black River
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAs far as second-year Saugatuck boys basketball coach Ty Rock was concerned, effort was not an issue in his team’s SAC Central contest with host Holland Black River on Friday, Jan. 9.“The guys played hard,” Rock said.Rather,…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAge of InnocenceI can’t tell you how many women mistake me for Tom Brady. Is it my movie star looks? Seven Superbowl rings? Status as football’s GOAT? Untold millions?“No,” said Madge at the Pullman Tavern. “It’s your personality.…
Winter seeds flourish at SCA
By Scott SullivanEditorThe hand-sewn “seeds” shown above, part of Kayla Powers’ exhibit “Interwoven: The Art of Flourishing Together,” can be shared and sown at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts through May 8.Michigan-rooted textile artist Kayla Powers, 37, notes they…
New Baldy restrooms now near-complete
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council Monday approved Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering-recommended change orders for its now substantially-completed new restrooms at Mt. Baldhead Park.This city last spring contracted low bidder Midwest Construction to do the work for $298,000, budgeting contingency costs…
A new reading companion arrives at Otsego Library
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Young readers at the Otsego District Library have a new reading partner—one who never tires of holding a book.The library recently received “Come Read With Me,” a life-size bronze sculpture by internationally recognized sculptor Tuck Langland.The…
PCS Highlights Free Webinars on Michigan Achievement Scholarship
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Families in the Plainwell district looking for financial aid guidance may want to mark their calendars. Michigan Student Aid is hosting several upcoming webinars on the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.In a recent message to families, Plainwell Community…
Plainwell starts quick and holds off Otsego at end
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Would the Otsego boys basketball team extend its winning streak, or would Plainwell bounce back from a tough loss to Mattawan three days earlier.That was the question when the Bulldogs hosted the archrival Trojans on Friday,…
Allegan cheer takes first at league jamboree
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SCHOOLCRAFT—So far, so good for the Allegan competitive cheer team when it comes to its pursuit of a third straight SAC championship.The Tigers opened the conference schedule at the Schoolcraft Jamboree on Thursday, Jan. 8, placing…
Life as Performance Art
The year that my late wife Pat turned 95, MENSA sent a reporter to interview her about her nine decades as a professional artist and writer.The writer first asked who or what inspired her to become an artist. Pat explained…
Fennville Elementary earns dual honors as district kicks off 2026
By Art Nicholas Fennville Public Schools is celebrating a strong start to 2026 following two prestigious recognitions for Fennville Elementary School and continued community programming for the semester ahead.National Academic RecognitionIn November, Fennville Elementary School was recognized by U.S. News…
Commissioners elect Beltman as Chair
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — At its annual organizational meeting last Thursday, the Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Commissioner Scott Beltman of Monterey Township to chair the body. Beltman succeeds Gale Dugan ofOtsego Township who chaired the body in 2025.“It’s…
Wayland students, coaches fight cancer
By Elizabeth Stein & Gari Voss Wayland Union Public Schools are out to beat cancer, and the entire school district is determined to assist the American Cancer Society in the fight. Wayland Union students scheduled their annual Coaches vs Cancer…
Mike’s Musings: It’s 2026. Why Is the IRS Still Stuck in the Past?
Not long ago, I set aside part of my workday to ask the Internal Revenue Service a simple question. This wasn’t a complicated audit issue or a dispute over taxes owed. It was a basic inquiry that should have taken…
Paw Paw wrestlers are fourth
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Paw Paw wrestling team took to Olivet for the John Burton boys and girls tournament on Saturday. After a grueling 10-hour tournament the boys team ended up taking fourth place out of 20…
