Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 4 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorActing OutIn spring a young man’s fancy turns to why Gavin Love, 25, of Grand Haven went on a rampage March 20 at the Holland Walmart store.Love knocked flat-screen TVs to the floor, smashed glass display cases and…

City election complaint: What’s next?

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 5 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFormer Saugatuck mayor Ken Trester’s Oct. 16 complaint to the Michigan Bureau of Elections about EPIC (Empowering People Investing in Communities), a 501c4 nonprofit headed by another ex-mayor, Garnet Lewis, has apparently been resolved to the tune of…

Summer jobs in the sun? Look here

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorYoung and looking for a summer job? You could do worse than apply for Saugatuck and Douglas departments of public works openings. Saugatuck is also seeking Oval Beach Patrol members.Saugatuck DPW seasonal maintenance workers earn $17 an hour…

Plainwell mill damaged by strong winds

Plainwell mill damaged by strong winds

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The storm system that swept through the area during the evening on Sunday, March 30, brought with it heavy rain and damaging winds.Among the casualties of those winds was Building 2 of the mill complex on…

Otsego Arts Competition seeks to draw artists from SW MI

Otsego Arts Competition seeks to draw artists from SW MI

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Abbott The Otsego Arts Council is excited to host the fourth Otsego Arts Competition, formerly known as The Art Thing.Beginning in 2021, this event has been an opportunity for local artists to display art and compete for cash…

Hawkeye baseball rallies for victory

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HAMILTON—After suffering a pair of losses to Spring Lake the previous day, the Hamilton baseball team hosted Spring Lake for a single game on Friday, March 28.And it appeared as though the Hawkeyes would drop a…

Boys Track Preview

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 7 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANCoach: Mike ChalupaTop returning athletes: Sylar Bush, sr. (pole vault, sprints); Jacob Cranmer, sr. (sprints); Colby Bishop, soph. (sprints/jumps); Oliver Burnett, soph. (distance); Kellen Chalupa, soph. (distance); Hunter McKee, soph. (distance); Cooper Prentice, soph. (distance); Ezra…

Con Agra closure puts Fennville on edge

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 4 min read

By Piper Raab The million square foot fruit canning and frozen fruit processing manufacturing plant, Con Agra Foods, located in the city of Fennville, officially announced a future closure plan, slated for June 27th, 2025. City Administrator, Katie Beemer said,…

Seven inmates honored at graduation ceremony

Seven inmates honored at graduation ceremony

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 6 min read

By Piper Raab The Community Reentry Unit Program for qualified inmates at the Allegan County Corrections Center is a quarterly intensive education and life skills preparation program with a Christian foundation. The program is directed and managed by Lead Jail…

Planwell mill strongly damaged in latest storm

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The storm system that swept through the area during the evening on Sunday, March 30, brought with it heavy rain and damaging winds.Among the casualties of those winds was Building 2 of the mill complex on…

South Haven sweeps Berrien Springs

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — South Havens softball team won games handily on March 26 over Berrien Springs 14-0 and 15-0.In the first game South had four runs in the first, six in the second one int he third…

New youth librarian has big shoes to fill

New youth librarian has big shoes to fill

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Jen LaRowe has no illusions about becoming the new Youth Librarian at the South Haven Memorial Library.She admits that following Gail Patterson-Gladney, who retired recently after nearly 25 years as the Youth Librarian, is not going to…

Vietnam veteran finally feels welcomed home

Vietnam veteran finally feels welcomed home

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 5 min read

By James Windell After two tours in Vietnam and being shot more than seven times, Albert Anthony was not welcomed home when he returned more than 50 years ago.Maybe that’s one reason Anthony, a South Haven resident, stayed in the…

Comedy show, art auction to benefit We Care

Comedy show, art auction to benefit We Care

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell For the second year in a row, We Care Community Resource Center is bringing in a comedian to headline a fundraiser. But in addition to comedy, the event on Friday, April 11, 2025 will also feature an…

SUV and Amish buggy crash claims life of young girl

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWRENCE – An eight-year-old girl was killed early Wednesday morning, March 26, in Lawrence Township when the Amish horse and buggy she was a passenger in, was rear-ended by a vehicle, according to a press release…

Suspect in custody in Hartford shooting

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Response and detectives from the CID Unit handled a shooting/homicide in the City of Hartford. “I cannot go into details being it’s an open pending case with the suspect in custody. I can disclose an…

Mike’s Musings: Nuclear energy is back

Mike’s Musings: Nuclear energy is back

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 3 min read

With all the talk about solar and windmill energy and how they will power our country in the future, we hear very little about nuclear plants that are being recommissioned.Nuclear power is considered by many to be the most efficient,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Apr 2, 2025 6 min read

President Trump has announced he plans to somehow annex or take over Canada and make it into our 51st state.I am not certain of the finer details of his aspiration and question if he has any real plans. Besides, we…

Constantine to seek new boys’ basketball coach

Editorial Staff Mar 28, 2025 1 min read

CONSTANTINE — Constantine will be seeking out a new boys’ basketball coach for the 2025-26 academic year.On Monday, the Constantine Public Schools district posted the position of varsity boys’ basketball coach for hiring in a social media post. The posting…

Track and Field Roundup TR opens season with split over Sturgis

Editorial Staff Mar 28, 2025 3 min read

STURGIS — Three Rivers’ boys and girls’ track and field teams opened up the 2025 season at the Sturgis Dual, with the boys taking a 94-43 win over the Trojans, and the girls dropping a 121-12 decision.On the boys’ side,…

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.