Sheriff’s office investigates fatality in Leighton Twp
By John RaffelCorrespondent On Monday, March 17, around 7:30 p.mm, Allegan County Central Dispatch received a call for a serious traffic crash in the 4700 Block of 7th St in Leighton Township. Preliminary investigation shows a south bound SUV left the roadway…
Hoekstra nominated to be Canada ambassador
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — Former U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who lives in AlleganCounty, is the President’s nominee to be Ambassador to Canada. Hoekstra appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations committee last week for a confirmation hearing.“In his opening statement,…
Three Gobles players receive honors
By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — Three Gobles players received all-conference honors this season.Picking up first-team honors were junior Jayden Otis who averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and Aden Newberry who was at 11 points and nine boards…
Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada
President Trump likes to say his favorite word is “tariff.” He hopes to use the word to force corporations to locate in the United States, instead of other countries where they have tax and trade advantages. More corporations mean more…
Life as Performance Art
BY G.C. STOPPELFew hold party politics and politicians in high esteem. Campaigns grow longer and more expensive and polarization fiercer. Consensus and compromise are no longer goals; they are dirty words.The last presidential election was packed with negative ads and…
South Haven gets new water storage tank
South Haven’s new million gallon concrete water storage tank is rising out of the ground.When completed in 2026, it will replace a crumbling century–old tank located on Blue State Memorial Highway.The new tank is located near the City of South…
New Condos planned for downtown South Haven
By James Windell Plans for three new condominiums in downtown South Haven are gaining momentum.A proposed project by local developers Locker & Locker Properties LLC to construct three condominiums on the upper floor of the building that houses The Shoe…
Finally, STR ordinance approved by City Council
By James Windell The City of South Haven has its first revised Short-term Rental ordinance since 2018. The South Haven City Council approved a much-debated ordinance at its meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.But getting there wasn’t easy.In 2018, the…
BOC to seek $3 million grant for 9-1-1 center
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…
Stolen vehicle recovered, felon found in possession of firearms
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW TWP. – A stolen vehicle was recovered, in addition to several guns and ammunition, while a felon was found to be in possession of firearms, following an incident that occurred Friday, March 14, in…
Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools
MATTAWAN – Monday, March 10, marked a historic milestone for Mattawan Consolidated Schools as the district broke ground on the first phase of a comprehensive, multi-year school construction project. This initiative follows the approval of a $110 million dollar school…
BOC hopes to get $3 million grant for dispatch/emergency center
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…
Mendon girls bounced in regionals by Reading
By Steve Eldridge CONCORD —It was a tough finish to the season for the Mendon girls after winning a district championship last week. The Lady Hornets traveled to Concord Monday night, squaring off against the Reading Rangers in their regional…
Out and About: Clocks, family entertainment, and travel season
By now everyone should have their clocks set to the correct time. You’ll notice that you are probably getting up in the dark and watching the sunset around 7 PM. It would be nice if this could have been the…
TR DDA to apply for vibrancy grant for Historical Society project
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority will be seeking funding from the state for a proposed project headed by the St. Joseph County Historical Society.At its meeting Thursday, March 6, the DDA unanimously…
City of Sturgis to assess options for curbside recycling program
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday had a preliminary discussion regarding curbside recycling.City manager Andrew Kuk provided an overview for the board.In 2008, the city first entered into a five-year contract for curbside recycling with Borden Waste-Away .Borden…
High attendance for ‘Dr. Seuss’ party at library
By Dennis Volkert “Dr. Seuss Birthday Party” was held March 7 at Sturgis District Library.The event, an annual feature at the library for about the past 20 years, featured a “Cat in the Hat” backpack giveaway and a free book…
‘Art Around Town’ auction, ‘Winter Wine Down’ featured March 21
By Dennis Volkert “Art Around Town” auction and “Winter Wine Down” takes place 5:30-9 p.m. March 21 in downtown Sturgis.It’s the second festival of the 2025 season, presented by Sturgis Downtown Development Authority.Seventeen works are part of the silent auction,…
May I Walk with You? BRIDE OF CHRIST
Ever notice that when Christians speak of the human soul that we always refer to it in the feminine gender? We use the pronoun she and not he, even when we speak of the soul of a male. All of…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: ONE LAST BIT AND PIECE
I’m not sure I am going to do justice to a column that my mom so effortlessly and beautifully wrote every week for decades, but I felt one last column should be written none the less, so here goes.Our mom…
