State VFW members travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators

State VFW members travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators

Editorial Staff Mar 26, 2025 1 min read

Kevin Conklin, a member of the Decatur VFW, and Veterans of Foreign Wars National Council member representing the State of Michigan, traveled to Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 through March 6 to meet with legislators concerning veterans’ issues and benefits. Conklin…

Hartford area woman in custody following fatal shooting

Editorial Staff Mar 26, 2025 1 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com HARTFORD – A 41-year-old Hartford area man is dead following an early Monday morning, March 24, shooting in Hartford, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott…

Second trial to begin in 2007 Lawrence murder case

Editorial Staff Mar 26, 2025 2 min read

A Lawrence woman convicted of murdering her husband will soon begin the process of having a second murder trial.On Tuesday a jury trial was set to commence years after the January 2007 murder case of Todd Stermer.According to investigators, Todd…

Railcar Graffiti’s St. Patrick’s Day fun, traditional food fills house at Albion Malleable Brewing Company

Railcar Graffiti’s St. Patrick’s Day fun, traditional food fills house at Albion Malleable Brewing Company

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 5 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Keeping Irish American traditions alive on St. Patrick’s Day, Albion Malleable Brewing Company located on S. Superior St. served corned beef and cabbage, Baileys Irish Crème Brule for dessert, and from 6-8:00 p.m. traditional Irish and Welch…

Two women embody the spirit of Women’s History Month on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond

Two women embody the spirit of Women’s History Month on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 5 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez March celebrates Women’s History Month as well as St. Patrick’s Day and in Marshall two women support each other’s businesses and live the spirit of the month with their partnership. Pansy Goheen, Tekonsha, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day…

Two Howardsville basketball stars earn All-BCS honors

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 1 min read

HOWARDSVILLE — Two Howardsville Christian boys’ basketball players received First-Team All-Conference Honors from the BCS Conference earlier this month.Seniors Kaden Sparks and John Paul Rose received the honor, while Sparks was runner-up for the conference’s Player of the Year award.For…

Glen Oaks AD offers plans for games, practices while construction occurs Offers general updates on athletic department

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 4 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Glen Oaks Community College’s athletic director says there are plans in progress for athletic contests while a renovation to the gym area is completed next academic year.In a presentation to the GOCC Board of…

Out and About: Useless info, armed forces wisdom, and oxymorons

Out and About: Useless info, armed forces wisdom, and oxymorons

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 3 min read

My wife has suggested that I clean up my office. It seems she came in there yesterday and couldn’t find her way out. This prompted me to clear out a couple file folders filled with useless information. I thought you…

Sturgis school board approves science curriculum request, gets update on steering committee, Eastwood driveway project

Sturgis school board approves science curriculum request, gets update on steering committee, Eastwood driveway project

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 3 min read

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on March 17 approved adoption of science curriculum upgrades for K-2 and high school.In February, the board received a list of requests from educators to fund educational materials, equipment improvement and…

Hostetler receives ‘Book of Golden Deeds’ award

Hostetler receives ‘Book of Golden Deeds’ award

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 3 min read

Kelly Hostetler was honored this week by Sturgis Exchange Club at its 82nd annual Book of Golden Deeds award ceremony, held at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.According to the club, Hostetler was selected for the award in recognition of tireless…

Harrison competes at CMU

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent HARRISON —Harrison’s track and field teams competed at the Central Michigan University High School Invitational on Friday.Placing for the Harrison boys were:Daniel Stewart 33rd in the 60-meter dash (7.78 seconds) and 23rd in the 200-meter dash (25.12),…

May I Walk wit You? PRAYER OF SURRENDER

May I Walk wit You? PRAYER OF SURRENDER

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 2 min read

In our adult formation program, The Rescue Project, we have come to a point where we have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, again, and once more have the opportunity to respond. In a recent gathering we prayed this…

Harrison man rear-ends patrol car, threatens to fight deputy

Harrison man rear-ends patrol car, threatens to fight deputy

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 2 min read

On Wednesday March 12, 2025, at 9:21 p.m., a Deputy with the Clare County Sheriff Office was conducting a traffic stop on Cedar Rd near Plum St in the township of Lincoln. While on this stop, the Deputy’s patrol car,…

50 YEARS OF SHENANIGANS Celebrated at Irish Festival

50 YEARS OF SHENANIGANS Celebrated at Irish Festival

Editorial Staff Mar 21, 2025 7 min read

By Christopher Johnson This past weekend, Clare celebrated its 50th anniversary of the annual Irish Festival and welcomed an attendance of record numbers. For three days, the main artery of town became a sprawl of green shirts and hometown pride.…

Township water line work underway

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck Township started work Monday, March 17, to replace a nearly 100-year-old, 2-inch water line serving Riverside Drive and Dugout Road. “This is a legacy project dating back to the 1990s,” said township manager Daniel DeFranco.…

Ferry watermain work begins

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor The early arrival of springlike weather continues to aid Douglas efforts to reopen Ferry Street by Memorial Day weekend. The city shut down north-south Ferry between West Shore Drive and Campbell Road Aug. 2 last year…

OPS sets interviews for superintendent candidates

OPS sets interviews for superintendent candidates

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The search for the next superintendent of Otsego Public Schools continues to move forward.On Thursday, March 13, members of the Otsego School Board met to review the 22 individuals who had applied for the position. Deeming…

PHS presents ‘Tuck Everlasting: The Musical’

PHS presents ‘Tuck Everlasting: The Musical’

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you take it?That’s the question at the heart of “Tuck Everlasting: The Musical,” which Plainwell High School will perform from Friday, March 28, through Sunday, March 30.The…

State Champs

State Champs

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 1 min read

It was a good day for area swimmers and divers at the Division 3 State Finals on Saturday, March 15.Otsego’s Liam Smith (left) won titles in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly, while Plainwell’s Sam Harper claimed the 500…

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.