Life as Performance

Life as Performance

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20257 min read

   On several occasions, Pat told me that one thing she loved about her father was the first thing he would say in the morning.  “Great Day!  Wonderful Day! Great Day!  That could not have been easy for him because…

Lake Allegan, Calkins dams to be purchased by Hull Energy

Lake Allegan, Calkins dams to be purchased by Hull Energy

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20255 min read

By Gari Voss Homeowners around Lake Allegan are releasing a sigh of relief thanks to the announcements by Consumers Energy and Hull Street Energy, LLC (HSE) affiliate Confluence Hydro have reached an agreement on the purchase of the 13 Michigan…

Dive teams from several counties train at Kalamazoo River event

Dive teams from several counties train at Kalamazoo River event

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20254 min read

By Gari Voss When the alarm is sounded that a swimmer or boater is in trouble on the water, the call goes to emergency management who puts in motion the appropriate response team. These teams train to ensure that they…

Police seek information regarding Otsego playground fire

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20251 min read

The Otsego Police Department is actively investigating an arson fire crime and is requesting anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Otsego Police department at (269)692-6111.On September 2nd, 2025 at approximately 12:18am, Allegan County Dispatch received a call…

Mike’s Musings: A Father’s Painful Choice Shows True Honor

Mike’s Musings: A Father’s Painful Choice Shows True Honor

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20254 min read

Many of us are grieving the assassination of TPUSA founder, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk. Its unimaginable to me that in this day and age, a person debating students at an outdoor rally in Utah would be murdered.The assassin has been named…

Planning Commission approves variance to allow new STR

Planning Commission approves variance to allow new STR

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20253 min read

By James Windell When Melissa Schlinger appeared before the South Haven Planning Commission on Thursday, September 4, 2025, she requested that the Planning Commission approve her property at 307 Spruce Street for a variance. The reason for the request was…

SH Food Pantry has been serving needy for over 50 years

SH Food Pantry has been serving needy for over 50 years

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20254 min read

By James Windell By 9:45 am on a recent Wednesday morning, the cars were lined up in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church on Phoenix Street.That’s the way it has been every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for…

Beacon to Feature a Series of Stories on Housing in South Haven

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20251 min read

In a series of stories starting in this issue of the South Haven Beacon, we will be exploring the problem of a shortage of affordable houses and apartments in South Haven. In this series, we will feature the personal stories of…

Housing shortage in South Haven affects real people

Housing shortage in South Haven affects real people

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20253 min read

By James Windell Trenton Bulat isn’t looking to buy a house in South Haven. He merely wants an apartment that he and his boyfriend can live in for a long time.But just as there is a shortage of houses in…

Paw Paw’s Briggs Dam receiving makeover

Paw Paw’s Briggs Dam receiving makeover

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20252 min read

Following the partial failure and subsequent repair of Briggs Dam in 2017, the State of Michigan’s Dam Safety Division recommended the complete replacement of the spillway as a long-term solution.The Village of Paw Paw has been working with a team…

Bloomingdale’s Oktoberfest opens Friday, September 19th

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20251 min read

Bloomingdale’s Oktoberfest 2025 will kick off on Friday, Sept. 19, at Augustus Haven Park, here, for a three-day run, and will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 21. The festival will feature a wide variety of events and activities for all ages.On…

State Police investigate fatal crash

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20251 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com ANTWERP TWP. A 41-year-old Paw Paw man was killed Saturday afternoon, Sept. 13, in a head-on crash in Antwerp Township, according to a press release from the Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post.Troopers said the crash…

Young girl allegedly steals truck, vehicle pursuit by authorities follows

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20251 min read

GENEVA TWP. – An adolescent girl faces several charges after she was arrested after allegedly taking a stolen truck on a vehicle pursuit Thursday, Sept. 11, in Geneva Township, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.At approximately 10:20 a.m.,…

Gobles improves to 3-0

Editorial StaffSep 17, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — The Gobles Tigers put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball Friday night, rolling to a 44-0 victory over Marcellus, coach Greg Eichler said.The Tigers racked up 396 total yards of offense…

Dam removal talk highlights long road to river renewal

Dam removal talk highlights long road to river renewal

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20252 min read

By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Blueprints showing the future of the Kalamazoo River in Albion, both the north branch and the south branch, took center stage at the Sept. 2 City Council meeting as a consultant outlined 43 pages of…

O’Rourke pleads not guilty by self defense in murder of Emarion Flowers

O’Rourke pleads not guilty by self defense in murder of Emarion Flowers

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20252 min read

by ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Joseph O’Rourke was at a pre-trial conference on Tues. Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. with Hon. John McBain. He has been charged in the killing of Emarion Flowers on May 16 at the Southridge Park…

Antonio Green in Jackson County Jail

Antonio Green in Jackson County Jail

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20251 min read

by ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Antonio Treyvonne Green, age 2), the only suspect in the July 27 shooting death of Mia Sims, age 18, was arraigned by Magistrate Christopher Dickenson on Sept. 4, on charges of Homicide—2nd Degree Murder; Discharging…

Jacksonburg and the great Erie Canal

Jacksonburg and the great Erie Canal

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20256 min read

By Ken Wyatt You could say that Clinton’s Folly led to the founding of Jacksonburg in 1829-30. Or, to use a more geographically precise descriptive, you could credit Clinton’s Ditch. History has been kinder, for we remember it as the…

Albion’s brick street gets protective treatment

Albion’s brick street gets protective treatment

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20253 min read

By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Downtown Albion’s red brick Superior Street, a symbol of the city’s history and identity, has been closed to traffic this week while crews carried out a maintenance process designed to preserve its distinctive surface for…

Tennis Roundup TR tennis defeats Plainwell, loses to Brandywine

Editorial StaffSep 12, 20253 min read

THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ boys’ tennis team split their two matches this week, defeating Plainwell Monday 7-1 and losing to Brandywine Tuesday 7-1.Against Plainwell, Three Rivers won matches at all but No. 1 doubles. Alex Nowak defeated Plainwell’s Kevin…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239