Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFish StoryA leading suspect has emerged in the case of the spinning smalltooth sawfish: algae.For months ichthyologists have puzzled over what’s ailing and killing dozens of fish species off the Florida Keys. In what NBC News calls “a…

Faces of Armed Forces Day

Faces of Armed Forces Day

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

Preceding Memorial Day each year is the Saugatuck-Douglas Armed Forces Day Luncheon, held Saturday at the Community Church of Douglas, recognizing U.S. veterans and their families. These are eyes, one comes away thinking, that have seen everything. Memorial Day observances…

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The people spoke. And the organizers of the Island City Festival in Plainwell listened.“Based on feedback from last year, people were expecting more adult-sized activities (at the festival),” Island City Festival president Larry Gonzalez said. “So,…

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Monday, May 6, organizers of the Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest held their annual dinner and awards ceremony at Frederik Meijer Gardens.And three Plainwell High School students were among those being honored.Josie Longcore, Julia…

Helen Ave. reconstruction project underway in Otsego

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager The northside of the City of Otsego will be looking a little different this summer. Actually, it will be looking very different.It’s hard to miss the infrastructure project that has already commenced and will likely…

Plainwell wins three events at regionals, Otsego claims two events

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor RICHLAND—The Plainwell quartet of Hiro Nguyen, Donovan Ryan, Henry Cox and Isaac Veen entered the Division 2 boys track regional at Gull Lake High School ranked first in the 4×800 relay.And they didn’t disappoint, shaving four…

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Mary K. Bastian, age 71, of Gladstone, MI passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the UP Health System in Marquette, MI.Mary was born July 18, 1952 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Frank and Marilyn (Stigers) Bastian.…

Obituary: June A. Smith

Obituary: June A. Smith

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

June A. Smith passed away peacefully at Resthaven Care Center in Holland, Michigan on May 14th, 2024. June was born in Berwyn, Illinois on August 10, 1931 to her doting parents Edward “Ted” A. Reed and Helen Kientop Reed.As a…

Obituary: William Don Howard

Obituary: William Don Howard

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

William Don Howard, 73, of Allegan, MI passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Meadow Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bloomingdale. Born January 9, 1951 in Greely, CO, he was the son of the late Don and Elizabeth (Vivian)…

Obituary: Albert John Radspieler II

Obituary: Albert John Radspieler II

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Albert John Radspieler II, a resident of Allegan, Michigan, age 83 bid farewell to this world on April 30, 2024. Born on January 19, 1941, to the late Albert John Radspieler Sr. and Antoinette “Ann” (Wapienik) Radspieler, he was also…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20246 min read

   When I was growing up, some of The Olds still called it Decoration Day.  They were participating in a tradition that dated back to the 1860s, just after the Civil War.  Late each May they went to the local cemetery to clean…

Election Commission keeps Storey off of ballot

Election Commission keeps Storey off of ballot

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Donald Talonen On Thursday May 17, 2024, the Allegan County Election Commission, in a unanimous 3-0 decision, determined that it lacks the authority to consider or act upon a request made by the current County Board Chair, Jim Storey.…

Memorial Day observances set for many municipalities

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20248 min read

By Gari Voss Monday, May 27th marks Memorial Day 2024, a day to remember all those who have given their lives to preserve the freedom of the United States. Across Allegan County, veterans, community leaders, and volunteers plan celebrations to…

Obituary: Mr. Nathan Brooks

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Mr. Nathan Brooks, 63 of Lafayette, AL passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2024.Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 1:00 PM CST until 6:00 PM CST at Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home Chapel, Lafayette, AL.Mr. Brooks will lie…

Obituary: Mrs. Willie Pearl Harper Henderson

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Mrs. Willie Pearl Harper Henderson, 80 of Lanett, AL passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024 at her residence.Visitation will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 12:00 PM CST until 5:00 PM CST at Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home Chapel,…

Obituary: Ms. Priscilla Allen

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Ms. Priscilla Allen, 67 passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.Public Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 1:00 PM CST until 6:00 PM CST at Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home Chapel, Lafayette, AL.Ms. Allen will lie in state…

Obituary: Ms. Cora Mae Durham

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

Ms. Cora Mae Durham, 70 passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024.Visitation will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 12:00 PM CST until 6:00 PM CST at Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home Chapel, Lafayette, AL.Ms. Durham will lie in state…

Mike’s Musings: The school end is here, thoughts for our graduates

Mike’s Musings: The school end is here, thoughts for our graduates

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Our newspapers, for the most part, are filled with photos of high school graduates and some college graduates. It is indeed a milestone to graduate, and it will be a feat you, your parents and grandparents will remember for years…

Thomas, Linson lead LHS Top 10 graduates

Thomas, Linson lead LHS Top 10 graduates

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20244 min read

I’m Class #1l am DaNasia Thomas, valedictorian of class of 2024. I am an honor student who is on an advanced diploma maintaining a grade point average of 4.0. $270,040 in scholarships.I am a member of the National Honor Society.…

Paw Paw baseball team Improves record to 18-11-1

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – The Paw Paw varsity baseball traveled to Niles on Wednesday, May 15, for a conference twinbill and suffered two losses.In the opener against Niles, the Red Wolves scored in the sixth to take a…