May I Walk with You? INTERCESSORY PRAYER
I confess. I have never been a great believer in asking the saints to pray on the behalf of others for favors of healing, finding jobs, finding lost items, selling houses, or any other issue. It seemed to me to…
Grand Funk’s Mark Farner, rocks the house at Liberty Mountain
By Genine Hopkins Michigan’s contribution to rock n’ roll often takes a backseat to New York and L.A. or Liverpool and Birmingham with the British Invasion. If Michigan is discussed at all it’s Motown, Bob Seger or Ted Nugent. As…
Harrison predator arrested for multiple child sex crimes
By Christopher Johnson A Clare County man is facing charges after investigators say he communicated online with a person he believed was a 14-year-old boy. Thus landing him behind bars this past week. On none other than Fourth of July…
Mount Pleasant man stabs two in Surrey Township
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, at approximately 7:19 p.m., the Clare County Central Dispatch received a report that two men had been stabbed at a residence on South Corning Street in the Village of Farwell, Surrey Township, Clare County.Deputies with…
Schrotenboer shines on golf course for ‘Blazers
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SAUGATUCK—After the first day of the MHSAA Division 3 Boys Golf State Finals, Saugatuck sophomore Grant Schrotenboer’s hopes of a top finish appeared to be fading.But as is so often the case in sports, appearances can…
Nearly 250 ways to celebrate the 4th of July in Saugatuck
By Wendy Colsen Revelers decked out in their holiday-best showed up in large numbers to celebrate last weekend’s 4th of July events in Saugatuck.A fast-moving thunderstorm on Friday drove beach goers off Oval Beach in the late afternoon, but the…
For more than three decades, Otsego’s Belton measured success one swimmer/diver at a time
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Anyone who spent time around an Otsego swim meet during the past three decades probably noticed something about Darryl Belton.Whether one of his athletes had just won a conference championship or another had simply recorded a…
Life as Performance Art
The headline caught my attention: “Mike Rowe says there is a lack of hunger in America.” I am sure I was not the only person who thought he was writing about a lack of food and physical hunger. He…
Allegan July 3rd Jubilee: storms force fireworks cancellation
By Gari Voss On July 3, 2026, in preparation for the July 3rd Jubilee: America250, the food trucks rolled into place along the Allegan Riverfront, floats were being assembled and decorated in preparation for the Parade that would assemble behind…
Incoming Hamilton eighth graders to spend school year at high school
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Hamilton Community Schools’ incoming eighth-grade class will spend the 2026-27 school year at Hamilton High School while a major roof replacement is completed at Hamilton Middle School.The temporary relocation, first announced by the district in January,…
Mattawan wrestler has bright future
By John RaffelCorrespondent MATTAWAN — Remi Schoonbeck had quite a wrestling freshman season for Mattawan at 138 pounds and cannot wait for what the future might bring him and to Mattawan’s sports program.As of in late the season, he had…
Monument unveiled to honor Lawrence area Vietnam veterans
A dedication ceremony for a Vietnam War monument was held Sunday afternoon at Hill Cemetery, Lawence, to honor Lawrence area Vietnam veterans. As a light, steady rain fell during the 45-minute ceremony, it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who…
Storms clear beaches twice but fireworks still find window to go off
Thousands of people swarmed South Haven beaches this past Friday in anticipation of the community’s Light Up the Lake fireworks show. Photo taken two hours before the scheduled show. For the second time that day, the crowd was encouraged to leave the…
Ayres seriously injured in accident in South Haven
By James Windell On June 11, 2026, Kristin Ayres rode her bike to handbell choir practice at the First Congregational Church in South Haven.When the practice was over, Kris put on her helmet and biked down to the Shell Gas…
Nine passengers rescued from disabled vehicle
Nine boaters were safely rescued from a disabled vessel during a severe thunderstorm warning in Lake Michigan. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, whose marine patrol led the rescue, said the rescue effort about 3:30 p.m. Friday happened amid a severe…
Parasailer rescued by SHAES
A parasailer who became entangled in the canopy’s ropes and was unable to return to the Lake Michigan shore was rescued by SHAES responders Tuesday afternoon.SHAES was dispatched to the incident off the North Beach at 2:35 p.m. Another nearby…
Rain and high winds wreak havoc in area
The roof of the Maple Lake Amphitheater was damaged during a Friday afternoon July 3, storm that slammed the area. The damage forced the cancellation of Sunday night’s July 5, concert featuring the Out of Favor Boys. The stage will…
Fatal head-on crash closes M-43 in Waverly Township
WAVERLY TWP. – On the night of July 3, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a two-vehicle head-on crash on M-43 at 46th Street in Waverly Township, according to a press release from the…
Mike’s Musings: America at 250: From a Distant Shore to the Greatest Experiment in Freedom
One could argue, America is much more than 250 years ago. In fact America’s beginnings began over 500 years ago.In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west across an ocean that many Europeans still viewed as the edge of the known world.…
