May I Walk with You? APPROPRIATE RESPONSE, PRAYER

May I Walk with You? APPROPRIATE RESPONSE, PRAYER

Editorial Staff May 2, 2025 3 min read

By now everyone has heard that Pope Francis has died, the funeral is over, and the world’s Cardinals are meeting in secret to elect a new successor to Peter, the first Pope. It never ceases to amaze me that for…

Adjacent tenant makes own door to restaurant, steals cash, food

Adjacent tenant makes own door to restaurant, steals cash, food

Editorial Staff May 2, 2025 2 min read

On Thursday April 24, 2025 at 11:10 p.m. the Clare County Central Dispatch received a call from the owner of the Jack Pine Restaurant located at 231 E. Main St in Harrison, reporting seeing a subject inside the restaurant on…

CTE millage renewal request set for May 6

Editorial Staff May 2, 2025 4 min read

Almost one decade ago, voters in Clare and Gladwin Counties approved a ten-year millage request that proved to be an enormous game-changer for high schoolers in those communities. Now, following unprecedented growth and student success, Clare-Gladwin CTE is asking voters…

A Northern Tradition raises over $75,000

A Northern Tradition raises over $75,000

Editorial Staff May 2, 2025 2 min read

Nearly 600 people attended the 22nd annual A Northern Tradition, Mid Michigan College’s annual fundraiser, which took place recently at Jay’s Sporting Goods in Clare. This year’s event raised over $75,000, and over twenty-two years, A Northern Tradition, has raised…

Township zones against lakeshore erosion

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck Township has approved a new ordinance to combat coastal erosion and safeguard the ecological and structural integrity of the lakeshore. The Lakeside Overlay District Ordinance, effective starting April 24, applies to all properties west of…

Trailblazers shut out Fennville for third straight win

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAfter sitting out the previous game while nursing an injury, leading scorer Neave Rewa returned the lineup for the Saugatuck girls soccer team in its showdown with Fennville on Monday, April 28.And Rewa made her presence felt,…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 4 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorGoing ApeBritish scientists say new footage of west African chimps sharing fermented breadfruit suggests booze may link them and man to a common ancestor.“For humans,” said Anna Bowland, a University of Exeter ecologist and lead author of a…

School Boys & Girls Club is on the grow

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorKids come in rambunctious. It’s 3 p.m., school’s out, mom or dad can’t pick them up until they get out of work. Where to go?At Douglas Elementary, they have a place. The school’s Boys and Girls Club, an…

Ferry Street could reopen by next week

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFerry Street — a key link to homes and tourist attractions including Mt. Baldhead and Oval Beach and Ox-Bow art school — may reopen as soon as next week, Douglas City Manager Lisa Nocerini says.It’s been seven months…

OPS named National Showcase District again

OPS named National Showcase District again

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools has once again been recognized for its commitment to cultivating a safe, supportive learning environment for its students.For the second straight year, OPS has been named a National Showcase District by the organization…

Island City Fest returns as one-day event for 2025

Island City Fest returns as one-day event for 2025

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Island City Festival is returning to Plainwell this summer … albeit with some changes compared to last year’s event.Organizers announced on Sunday, April 27, that this year’s Island City Festival will be a single day…

Otsego baseball drops twin bill with Wyoming

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor WYOMING—In the first game of a doubleheader against Wyoming on Thursday, April 24, the Otsego baseball team held a 7-3 edge in hits.That, however, wasn’t enough to produce a win, as the Bulldogs fell 4-1.Otsego also…

Allegan tennis beats Brandywine

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor NILES—The girls tennis teams from Allegan and Brandywine met for a SAC/Lakeland match on Monday, April 28, and the battles and No. 1 and No. 2 doubles were fierce.And while the teams split those flights—Allegan’s No.…

Adjacent tenant makes own door to restaurant

Adjacent tenant makes own door to restaurant

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

On Thursday April 24, 2025 at 11:10 p.m. the Clare County Central Dispatch received a call from the owner of the Jack Pine Restaurant located at 231 E. Main St in Harrison, reporting seeing a subject inside the restaurant on…

Allegan ends consideration of contracting out police services

Allegan ends consideration of contracting out police services

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

The City of Allegan has ended its consideration of contracting out police services. After community input sessions and a review of a potential agreement with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, the City decided to end further discussion of a budget option…

Sheriff Department shuts down illegal marijuana grow

Sheriff Department shuts down illegal marijuana grow

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

Blackman School By Gari Voss Trowbridge Township announced that the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department shut down illegal marijuana grow operations at the old Blackman School and in a pole barn behind it. Trowbridge established a marijuana ordinance, but there are…

South Haven Area Emergency Services honors members

South Haven Area Emergency Services honors members

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

SOUTH HAVEN – When Ron Wise retired as Executive Director (Chief) of South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) in 2020 he didn’t put away his helmet and boots.Instead, he changed from wearing the traditional white helmet of Chief to the…

South Haven police chief quits after he failed to resign previous job

South Haven police chief quits after he failed to resign previous job

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell After new revelations came to light, the South Haven Police Chief resigned on April 23, 2025.The second police chief to resign this year, Dennis Honholt began his duties on April 1, 2025. Just 23 days later, Honholt…

Ship grounded due to low river / lake level

Ship grounded due to low river / lake level

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 min read

Friends Goodwill was unable to leave port in South Haven for a Holland Tulip Time visit next week due to the low river/lake water level.

Two to oppose Brown for South Haven mayor

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

James Windell Several candidates in the races for South Haven’s Mayor and for open City Council positions met the filing requirements and will appear on the August Primary ballot.Incumbent Mayor Annie Brown will be opposed by present City Council member…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.