Back to School: Clare students return as significant changes continue
By Christopher Johnson It’s that time again. The halls of Clare Public Schools are once again filled with students, teachers and the familiar sounds of another school year getting underway.Students returned Monday for a half day, marking the first day…
Hayes Township residents demand township stop 3 a.m. bombs
By Genine Hopkins A group of stressed out and fed up Hayes Township residents attended the evening August regular meeting on Tuesday, August 25th, demanding the township enforce its noise ordinance and stop their neighbor from setting off “bombs” in…
Saugatuck volleyball competes at Lawton Invite
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor LAWTON—The Saugatuck volleyball team gained plenty of early-season experience during a busy day of competition at the Lisa Pio Memorial Tournament in Lawton on Saturday, Aug. 22.The Trailblazers competed in four pool-play matches before advancing to…
Getting down and dirty with KLSWA
By Wendy Colsen In true ride-along spirit, one has to be prepared to get down and dirty with the subject at hand, and the ride with the Kalamazoo Lake Sewer and Water Authority (KLSWA) was no exception. Need I mention?…
Late-night garage fire spreads to home in Saugatuck Twp
Multiple fire departments responded late Wednesday night to a structure fire at a residence in the 6000 block of 126th Avenue in Saugatuck Township.Allegan County Central Dispatch received the initial report at approximately 11:29 p.m. on August 19, 2026, with…
Otsego Public Schools welcomes students back to the classroom
Summer break officially came to an end on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for children who attend Otsego Public Schools.That was the first day of classes at OPS, with students making their way back to the classroom for the start of the…
Simonelli brings varied experience to principal role at Starr
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Theodore Simonelli’s career in education has taken him a long way from where it began.From West Michigan to Hawai‘i, Oklahoma and Chicago, Simonelli has worked with students in a variety of roles and settings.Now, that journey…
Otsego VFW members take part in The Wall That Heals visit
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BATTLE CREEK— For members of Otsego VFW Post 3030 and its Auxiliary, the recent visit of The Wall That Heals to Battle Creek provided several opportunities to honor those who served during the Vietnam War.And to…
Life as Performance Art
The other night I “returned to those thrilling days of yesteryear” as I wasted a few hours watching some truly campy black and white westerns. I confess, I went straight for the B- grade programs: Bat Masterson, Tombstone Territory,…
Students, teachers, public get firsthand view of new Allegan Elementary
By Gari Voss Allegan Public Schools has been putting finishing touches on the new Allegan Elementary School complex. Tuesday, August 18, 2026, teachers and administrators invited parents and students to tour the building and locate classrooms, the library, the gymnasium,…
Early Childhood Center breaks ground in Allegan
By Gari Voss On Thursday, August 20, 2026, Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC) invited the community to gather at the Early Childhood building on Grand Street to celebrate the groundbreaking of a brand new Early Childhood Center. The Early…
Paw Paw volleyball looking strong
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Danielle Rachac is upbeat with prospects for her 2026 volleyball squad at Paw Paw.Key player to watch for Paw Paw is Lydia Killam, a middle hitter. “She has a strong presence at the net…
Affordable housing coming to South Haven Township
By James Windelll Ross Stein and the South Haven Charter Township Board scored a major triumph this past week.It was announced on August 19, 2026, that Lighthouse Ridge, a 52-unit affordable housing development, will be built on 13 acres of…
New flower gardens dedicated at Elkenburg Park
By James Windell The South Haven Garden Club set out more than a year ago to beautify South Haven’s Elkenburg Park. That effort was on display on Friday, August 21, 2026, when city officials, along with Garden Club members and…
Zoning Board of Appeals considers 1309 Monroe Blvd.
By James Windell There was only one item of new business on the agenda when the Zoning Board of Appeals met for their regular monthly meeting. But that one item would, as it turned out, cause ZBA members considerable anguish.The…
City Council agrees to consider rezoning 120 Baseline
By James Windell The most significant issue on the South Haven City Council’s Regular Meeting Agenda for Monday, August 17, 2026, was the introduction of an ordinance to conditionally rezone the parcel commonly known as 120 Baseline Road from RM-1…
Mattawan breaks ground for middle school renovation and addition
MATTAWAN – On Monday, Aug. 17, Mattawan Consolidated School held a groundbreaking for a $9.5 million renovation and addition to the Mattawan Middle School.Mattawan Consolidated School District Superintendent Randy Fleenor said, “Today we celebrated the groundbreaking for an exciting $9.5 million…
Driver faces charge of operating while intoxicated by drugs
LAWRENCE TWP. – A personal injury crash on Interstate 94 in Lawrence Township on Aug. 19, resulted in the driver facing a charge of operating while intoxicated by drugs, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s…
Paw Paw Senior Center opening delayed one week
The Paw Paw Senior Center, which was scheduled to open today, (Thursday, Aug. 27), at 555 Cedar St., has been delayed a week. In a text sent out late Monday afternoon, it read, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be…
