Clare baseball infielder earns All-State honors
By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Junior infielder Ryan Louch from Clare earned all-state honors from the Michigan High School Coaches Baseball Association and for good reason.Louch played a huge role in the Pioneers drive to district and regional baseball championships…
Local softball team stays busy
By John RaffelCorespondent MARION – Marion softball coach Ryan Raymond is coaching a Michigan Expos summer team which was in action last weekend in a Traverse City tournament.Raymond’s team includes his daughter Malley Raymond and seven girls from Evart plus…
Obituary: Martin James Scott
Martin James Scott, age 74, of Farwell, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 17, 2024, at his home. Per Martin’s wishes, cremation has taken place at Daisy Hill Crematory in Mt. Pleasant. A Celebration of Life will take place at…
Obituary: Richard Lee (“Dick”) Snyder
Richard Lee (“Dick”) Snyder, age 95, died Wednesday, April 17, 2024, nine days short of his 96th birthday.Dick was the eldest child of Raymond and Esther (Winship) Snyder. He was born April 26th, 1928, in Buffalo, New York and spent…
May I Walk with You? MORAL CONFUSION
Recently, I’ve been talking about morality with some people who are confused. They tell me that the advice they get depends on the educated opinion of the person they are seeking advice from. They complained that even ministers, clergy, offer…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Summer Nights – I’m missing living on the Tobacco
This time of year the newspaper business is pretty hectic.Even though I do all of my work out of this “home office” now, some weeks it seems like I am just about glued to this computer chair.I find I have…
Postcard from the Pines: A chip off the old Block
It’s no secret that I am fond of old things and have, through the years, gathered a rather unusual collection of bits and pieces of Marion memorabilia. For example, I have a galvanized piece from a windmill ‘tail’ with Morton’s…
Man rescued after falling into corn storage bin
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent A man who fell into a corn storage bin Wednesday was safely rescued by emergency personnel.The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department got the call to assist in the rescue in northeast Isabella County at 7:31 am June 26…
4th of July celebrations, events all over area
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Farwell Figure 8 and moreFarwell has some big plans in the works for the holiday weekend this year.TNT will present a Figure 8 Derby, Bump & Run, Gut n’ Go and a front wheel drive Demo Derby…
Payment issues, lack of attendance scar Marion Fair
By Genine Hopkins After this year’s Marion Fair ended on Saturday, June 15, 2024, concerned citizens and some concerned Fair Board members brought up serious concerns about how the finances were handled for the fair. This included a cancellation of…
Monday storm knocks power out to more than a thousand homes
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent According to reports from Consumer’s, downed trees Monday caused a power outage for 1,266 customers in Clare, Gladwin and northern Isabella Counties, with the most outages (749) listed in Clare County and 198 in Isabella County. Gladwin…
Area July 4thcelebrations and events plentiful around Marion
By Genine HopkinsArea communities will be holding numerous, family fun events. Below are just some of the incredible things to do in our area (Fireworks events are bolded and red): Saturday, June 29, 2024Fireworks in Houghton Lake at dusk. The show will…
Share River Bluff Park ideas Thursday
By Scott Sullivan Editor Want to help restore Saugatuck Township’s River Bluff Park? A public open house Thursday, June 27, in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, 174 Center St., Douglas, will be your chance. From 5:30 to 7 p.m., township parks…
July 4 fun to pack full weekend
By Scott Sullivan Editor Holiday weekends in Saugatuck-Douglas mean serious fun. With July 4 falling on a Thursday this year, why not expand your fun two or three more days? Saugatuck’s annual July 4 parade has returned post-Covid to smalltown…
E. Coli advisory receives mixed reception
By Scott Sullivan Editor Last week’s Oval Beach E. Coli warning didn’t keep everyone out of Lake Michigan. Five days of 90° heat sent many into the waves regardless, witness the photo above taken June 19. The City of Saugatuck…
Two if by sea
Saugatuck, Holland and Park township fire crews hit Lake Michigan June 18, joined by a county marine division craft and U.S. Coast Guard chopper prepped for airborne transfer. Swimmers at risk, caught in rip currents, happen. Efficient, quick and practiced…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorHeat WaveThe book “Ban This Book” has been banned by the Indian River County (Fla.) school board. Members voted 3-2 to ax Alan Gratz’s 2017 children’s tome after Jennifer Pippin, local Moms for Liberty chair, complained it was…
Help make River Bluff Park dreams real
By Scott SullivanEditorWant to help restore Saugatuck Township’s River Bluff Park? A public open house Thursday, June 27, in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, 174 Center St., Douglas, will be your chance.From 5:30 to 7 p.m., township parks committee leaders will…
Plainwell’s Randall chosen to attend Grammy Camp
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Maryn Randall can’t imagine her life without music.“I would say I fell in love with music at an early age, probably before I could even talk,” the Plainwell High School senior said. “My parents, especially my…
The Buck Stops here: Judge Buck announces retirement
Judge Buck noted, “April of this year marked 45 years that I have had the pleasure of working in the courthouse for the people of Allegan County. I proudly served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the first 21 years…
