Whitmer issues state of emergency, tours damage from tornadoes
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency on Sunday morning, following the multiple tornadoes that hit southwest Michigan Friday night.The state of emergency was officially declared for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph…
Clare girl wrestler second in the state
By John RaffelCorrespondent AnnMarie Green was a state runner-up for the Clare Pioneers girls wrestling team on Friday and Saturday during the girls division finals at Ford Field in Detroit.Green started the tournament at 235 pounds by pinning Elloise Norman…
It’s here! 51 Years of Green: Faces Behind Irish Fest!
By Christopher Johnson If there’s one thing that can be said for certain about Clare this time of year, it’s that there’s no shortage of Irish pride as the 51st Irish Festival approaches. Just about everywhere in town is decked…
Trailblazers claim district title with comeback win
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorWinning a district championship.That’s good. Really good. But it could be better.How about winning a district championship in comeback fashion?That’s getting closer … but still not quite good enough.Winning a district championship in comeback fashion in front…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorThe WendigoA pickleball brawl broke out on Spruce Creek Country Club courts Feb. 8 in Port Orange, Fla. Seems Tony Sapienza, 63 and wife Julianne, 51 and a rival senior couple fought over rules, Tony hammered plaintiff in…
Troll tracks bridge launch ramps
By Scott SullivanEditorBig Lake winter gales make for whiteouts sweeping over and under north-south bridges here. Rescuers call these wind funnels.When lightly-loaded trailers with high profiles are engulfed in these blasts, they turn into sails, jackknife but bring nouveau Evel…
Christian Neighbors hosting Stuff the Bus food drive
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Christian Neighbors is asking the community for help stocking its food pantry to help those in need.The organization will host its latest Stuff the Bus food drive on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, at…
Siblings celebrate state championships
Saturday, March 7, is a day that will always hold a special place in the hearts of the members of Nieuwenhuis family from Plainwell.Because it was on that day that siblings Madison and Dylan each earned a Michigan High School…
Plainwell cheer team places sixth at Division 2 State Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor MOUNT PLEASANT—The Plainwell competitive cheer team capped another strong season Saturday with a sixth-place finish at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 State Finals at McGuirk Arena on the campus of Central Michigan University.The…
Life as Performance Art
I love laughter within boundaries of good taste. We laugh when we see a pompous, self-important individual slipping on the sidewalk; it is not funny when it happens to one of The Olds or someone who is disabled. Rule #1:…
3300 customers to be without power as Consumers upgrades
By Gari Voss Consumers Energy and ITC Michigan are partnering to make upgrades to electrical equipment in the Wayland area that will improve electric service for customers in the community.The overnight work will impact about 3,300 customers in the area…
Full house at Monterey meeting to contest solar project
By Joseph Schultz It was a full house Monday night as the Monterey Planning Commission reviewed NorthStar Clean Energy – Allegan Solar LLC’s plans for a 101-megawatt solar energy system and a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Monterey and…
Boss sentenced to13.5 years in prison
Judge Emily Jipp says it was because of the ‘justice and mercy’ of a family that the man who killed their eight-month-old daughter in a fatal drunk driving crash would not be spending life in prison. Terry Boss, 56, was sentenced to 13.5…
SH swimmers to compete in eight state championship events
By Tom Renner South Haven High School swimmers will compete in eight events at the MHSAA Division 3 State Championships to be held March 13-14 at the Holland Aquatic Center.Zander Duncan has qualified in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly…
SHAES constructs historical table
By Tom Renner The firehouse is “home” to first responders whose 24-hour shifts include eating meals together. A growing staff at South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) created a challenge of getting everyone around the table at mealtime.Some imaginative thinking…
Committee of the Whole considers STR renewals
By James Windell In 2025 the South Haven City Council passed a Short-Term Rental ordinance requiring all STR owners to register and have their STR approved in order to rent to visitors.Sounds like a reasonable requirement, right?But not so fast.…
Women who Care raise money for non-profits
By James Windell In 2015, four South Haven women decided to come together to make a greater impact on the community.Having heard about an organization called Women Who Care in Jackson, Michigan, the quartet of women adopted the model of…
Six departments battle Lawrence Township structure fire
Five area fire departments assisted the Lawrene Township Fire Department in battling a structure fire Monday, shortly before noon, at 54890 West Red Arrow Highway, Lawrence. The house, which was vacant, was reported on fire by a passerby. Other fire…
Lake Cora golf club property damaged
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW TOWNSHIP – A portion of a Paw Paw Township golf course was damaged early Sunday morning, March 8, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel…
Lawrence community launches effort to rebuild playground
LAWRENCE – The Lawrence community is launching a fundraising effort to rebuild the playground at Lawrence Village Park, a two-acre park that has served families for decades and draws visitors from across Van Buren County.The original wooden playground was built in 1995 during…
