Post-election audit shows counts were clean

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

Allegan County officials are praising the work of local clerks and election inspectors following the results of state-mandated post-election audits that ended Feb. 6.The audits included hand counts of votes on paper ballots to measure the accuracy of the totals…

Otsego Hall of Fame welcomes three newest members

Otsego Hall of Fame welcomes three newest members

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20256 min read

The Otsego Athletic Boosters welcomed the three newest members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb., between the girls and boys varsity basketball games.The Class of 2025 included Jesse Blanchard, Charity (Knight) Newby and Jessica (Sheen) Strickler.A ceremony…

Plainwell MS Honors Choir performs at state conference

Plainwell MS Honors Choir performs at state conference

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GRAND RAPIDS—When Plainwell Middle School choir director Rachel Quillian applied to have her Honors Choir perform at the Michigan Music Conference, she wasn’t sure what to expect.“It’s usually high school choirs that perform at the conference,…

Allegan claims first district crown in eight years

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SOUTH HAVEN—They came. They saw. They conquered.That pretty much sums up the performance of the Allegan boys wrestling team at the Division 3 team district hosted by South Haven on Thursday, Feb. 6.After dispatching Hopkins by…

Plainwell gets past Allegan

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The 200-yard freestyle relay couldn’t have been much closer in the SCC meet between the boys swim & dive teams from Plainwell and host Allegan on Tuesday, Feb. 4.The Trojans ended up prevailing in that event,…

Obituary: James Yaroch

Obituary: James Yaroch

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

James Alan Yaroch April 13, 1951- December 19th, 2024  The Heavens received their own gift this holiday season when God welcomed back James A. Yaroch on Dec. 19, 2024, at 4 a.m. James lived a vibrant and dynamic life that…

Obituary: William Hebert

Obituary: William Hebert

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

William (Bill) John Hebert, age 83, of Hamilton, passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family and loved ones. Bill was born on July 11, 1941, in Grand Rapids to William H. and Eileen J.…

Obituary: Patricia “Patty” Lee Parliament (Angle)

Obituary: Patricia “Patty” Lee Parliament (Angle)

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20254 min read

Patricia “Patty” Lee Parliament (Angle), 63, of Iron Station, NC, passed away Friday, January 31 st , 2025 – a day before her 64 th birthday. Patty was born to the late Robert and Roberta (Kellogg) Angle on February 1…

Obituary: Domingo (Don) Canales

Obituary: Domingo (Don) Canales

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

Early Thursday morning, my father, Domingo (Don) Canales, passed away. He was born at home in Salineño, Texas to Candelario and Teresa Canales, where his family had lived for several generations after having settled there from Northern Spain, in the…

Mills charged with mother’s death

Mills charged with mother’s death

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20251 min read

 A murder charge has been filed against a man in the death of his mother, who he lived with near Pullman, Allegan County Sheriff deputies say.Craig Michael Mills, 23, faces a charge of open murder in the death of 43-year-old…

City prepares for multiple improvement projects including parking lot, Mahan Park

City prepares for multiple improvement projects including parking lot, Mahan Park

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 202512 min read

By Gari Voss At their February 11, 2025, meeting, the Allegan City Council approved numerous purchase orders for the Department of Public Works that would assist in the implementation of the Mahan Park project, Ely Street and Airway Drive improvements,…

The Honorable Michael Buck receives Award of Excellence

The Honorable Michael Buck receives Award of Excellence

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

By Lauren Miller& Gari Voss Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) plays a vital role in supporting children involved in the child welfare and family court systems because of abuse or neglect. CASA of the Harbor, a program under the auspice…

Obituary: Kathleen Mulrenin Soard

Obituary: Kathleen Mulrenin Soard

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

Kathleen Mulrenin Soard passed away on January 23, 2025, in Carthage, TN. She was born on May 26,1953, in Paw Paw, MI, to Charles and Louise Mulrenin, as the fourth of eventually seven children. Kathy grew up in Paw Paw,…

Obituary: William Owen Marks

Obituary: William Owen Marks

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20251 min read

William Owen Marks07/26/1941 – 01/15/2”25Bill passed after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy Hazzard Marks.He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Jean Marks, a sister Joanne. Two sisters, Beverly Jean…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20254 min read

In December I wrote our list of Christmas cards was shrinking each year. Often this was because a friend had passed away. Our card would come back with a yellow USPS sticker saying it was undeliverable and the person’s address…

Mike’s Musings: State mandated minimum wage increases will damage small business

Mike’s Musings: State mandated minimum wage increases will damage small business

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

You gotta feel for small businesses. Not only are their pricing and services under attack by big box stores and internet giants from here and China, they must weave through a ton of regulations placed on them by the government.The…

Tom Renner honored by South Haven council

Tom Renner honored by South Haven council

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20255 min read

By James Windell A decades-long resident of South Haven was presented with a proclamation from Mayor Annie Brown at the South Haven City Council meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025.The proclamation read at the council meeting noted that Tom Renner…

South Haven City Council approves extension of STR moratorium

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20253 min read

By James Windell Despite threats of a lawsuit and other consequences, the South Haven City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025, passed a resolution pertaining to Short Term Rentals (STR).Resolution 2025—09 proposed an additional six-month extension…

Alcohol use resolutions approved by council

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20252 min read

By James Windell A resolution to permit the serving and consumption of alcohol at events at the South Haven Center for the Arts was approved by the South Haven City Council at their regular bimonthly meeting on February 3, 2025.In…

Paw Paw cemetery damaged by vandals

Paw Paw cemetery damaged by vandals

Editorial StaffFeb 12, 20251 min read

The Paw Paw Police Department took report Jan. 31 of destruction that had occurred at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Paw Paw. Paw Paw Chief of Police Eric Rottman said it is unknown when the damage occurred and there are currently no…

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.