City Council approves Community Recreation Director agreement

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell After the South Haven Area Recreation Authority presented the South Haven City Council with an amended Community Recreation Director agreement, the City Council unanimously approved the agreement on Monday, April 21, 2025.Scott Reinert, SHARA Recreation Administrator director,…

Seventy walk to overcome poverty

Seventy walk to overcome poverty

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 min read

With temperatures in the mid-60s, the 43rd annual Van Buren County CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk was held Sunday afternoon, April 27. Stepping off at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church, the walk made its way through Downtown…

Paw Paw winery demolishes building for expanded parking

Paw Paw winery demolishes building for expanded parking

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 min read

The demolition of a former auto dealership, then converted to several small shops, took place last week in Paw Paw on Kalamazoo Street. The building, owned by St. Julian Winery, located adjacent to the site, was razed to make way…

Volunteers honored for longtime service

Volunteers honored for longtime service

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 min read

Retired Paw Paw business owners, Mike and Marlene Lake, who operated M & M Sweet Shop in downtown Paw Paw for 21 years, retiring in 1993, retired last week from their volunteer jobs at Lakeview Foundation Community Thrift Shop. Mike,…

Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event

Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – Destination Paw Paw, a division of the Van Buren County CVB, gathered community members and partners at St. Julian Winery, here, on April 24 to celebrate the early successes of its newly launched brand. Destination Paw Paw officially…

Gobles boys have big day in Fennville

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — On April 23 the Gobblers Tigers boys track team traveled to Fennville to compete against Coloma and Fennville in this week’s double dual.The Tigers came away with some outstanding performances and 2 more team wins…

Mike’s Musings: Number of college administrators alarming

Mike’s Musings: Number of college administrators alarming

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

Many of you have read my rants concerning higher education. I believe the cost is outrageous and it certainly far outweighs the benefit most students receive.One of the reasons costs have risen extensively over the past decade is that universities…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 6 min read

If there is anything good to be said about doing mindless work such as blowing leaves out of the ground cover, it is that I allow my brain to wander off and play. When it comes back and we reengage,…

HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 4 min read

By Frank Passic THE BEGINNINGS OF RIVERSIDE CEMETERY             The land upon which Riverside Cemetery in Albion is located was once part of an original 80-acre plot located in Albion Township. The first two owners of the property were women,…

Soccer Roundup TR wins, loses, draws on week

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 2 min read

THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ girls’ soccer team had an even week this past week, as they had a record of one win, one loss, and one tie.On Wednesday, April 16, the team played to a 2-2 tie against Niles…

Baseball RoundupTR sweeps Vicksburg, Dowagiac; split with Coldwater; lose one to Plainwell

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 5 min read

THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ baseball team had a successful week, going 5-2 in eight games played this past week, with the sixth game being suspended for darkness.On Wednesday, April 16, the ‘Cats swept Vicksburg, winning 5-1 in Game 1…

Out and About: Rehabilitation and hard truths of life

Out and About: Rehabilitation and hard truths of life

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 3 min read

If you frequent the Wellness Center at Beacon Health in Three Rivers, and spend time walking the track, you may have wondered what that room is just off the track. I have passed that room many times as I was…

TRCS Water Quality Report finds majority of water sources safe; some need replacement

TRCS Water Quality Report finds majority of water sources safe; some need replacement

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 6 min read

Report: 6.75 percent of district water fixtures detected excessive lead in both samples By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The vast majority of water sources in Three Rivers Community Schools meet state safety standards, according to a new report,…

TRCS cites ’20 percent’ enrollment decline for restructuring of elementaries

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 3 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A near 20-percent decline in enrollment over the last 10 years was one of the main factors Three Rivers Community Schools officials say led to the restructuring of some elementary school placements for…

Case ‘moving forward’ against mother accused of killing child; adjourned for 30 days

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 2 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — The case against a mother accused of killing her 2-year-old child appears to be progressing, however it might not be for at least another month or two for a trial.In a status hearing Monday…

Sturgis school board approves Eastwood lot project

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 4 min read

By Dennis Volkert After extended discussion, Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved the proposal for paving and restructure of the Eastwood school parking lot and drives. The school district’s facility committee recommended a bid from Parrish Excavating of…

Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 3 min read

RECURRING Children’s story time, 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Friday, Sturgis District Library. Additional events at library available at www.sturgis-library.org/events.April 25Order deadline for spring seedling sale at St. Joseph County fairgrounds. Pick-up time frames: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 2 and 9…

Clare golfers second

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare’s golf team shot a 340 on Wednesday to finish second in a Jack Pine Conference jamboree at Gladwin.Pinconning was first at 323 followed by Clare, Ogemaw Heights (344), Shepherd (344), Bullock Creek (347), Gladwin…

May I Walk with You? Your Response

May I Walk with You? Your Response

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 2 min read

Easter is over, or is it just beginning? For many of us, Holy Week, the week leading up to the Resurrection, was full of busyness and activity as friends and family gather to eat and drink and catch up. I…

Baskets Full of Joy: Clare’s Airport Enjoys Another Festive Success

Baskets Full of Joy: Clare’s Airport Enjoys Another Festive Success

Editorial Staff Apr 25, 2025 4 min read

By Christopher Johnson Hopefully everybody had a happy Easter this past weekend!This has been a great season for our county’s eggstravaganza events and the kids couldn’t appear more thrilled as our dip through April Valley peaks to a close. Seeing…

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.