Douglas outdoor dining will return
By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas City Council — urged by 51 letters or emails to expand outdoor dining in public rights-of-way — agreed to do so Monday.Members at their last meeting Feb. 18 tabled doing so “for additional clarification,” city planning and…
Saugatuck courts state grant to upgrade courts
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck, which last year replaced children’s playground equipment in Village Square Park, is now seeking funds fund to improve its tennis and basketball courts.City council Feb. 24 approved paying engineer Fleis & VandenBrink $3,600 to prepare a Michigan…
Battle of the Books sets record for participation
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It was a record-breaking year for the annual Battle of the Books competition.A total of 27 elementary school teams from four Allegan County school districts participated in the event at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center on…
Allegan girls beat Schoolcraft, fall to Hopkins
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls basketball team hoped to end the regular season on a high note.Jayden VandenAkker and Maddie Antkoviak did their part to ensure that happened.VandenAkker scored a game-best 18 points and Antkoviak joined her in…
Plainwell wins SCC title, Otsego places runner-up
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—During the regular season, the Plainwell boys swim & dive team used its superior depth to rack up a perfect 7-0 record in the Southwest and Central Michigan Swim Conference.That depth was on full display at…
“Justice for Otsego” founder succumbs to cancer
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Mary Zack, founder of the advocacy group Justice for Otsego, passed away on Saturday, March 1. She was 43.An Otsego native, Zack was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997 at the age of 17.In the years…
Deer tries to crash through county medical care facility window
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — Former Allegan County commission chairman James Story reported last month Allegan County Medical Care Facility Director Kim Turcott was walking to her car at the end of the day when a deer rushed by her,…
Life as Performance Art
American psychiatrist William Glasser, mid-1960s founder of Reality Therapy and author of “Choice Theoryy,” died more than a decade ago. He was never well received by followers of Freud, Jung and others in his field. According to one story, Glasser…
Mike’s Musings: Send us those $5000 checks, DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has received a lot of attention in the news lately. Led by Elon Musk, his minions of young computer nerds have found billions of dollars of waste and fraud taking place in our vast…
Dyckman Bridge will be closed for repairs
By James Windell Travel to the Michigan Maritime Museum and other destinations north of the harbor in South Haven will be hampered starting at 8:00 am on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.That’s when repairs on the Dyckman Bridge will begin as…
South Haven Police Chief resigns after one month on job
By James Windell Since a press release from the City of South Haven announced the resignation of the chief of police on February 25, the rumor mills have been busy.The press release from the city only cites personal family business…
The 26th Annual Island Sit raises money for community
By James Windell For the 26th year, We Care’s Island Sit fundraiser in South Haven accepted donations from the public to help those in need.Executive Director of We Care I.N.C., Erika Morrison, was pleased with the response of both the…
SHAWSA gets wastewater system improvements update
By James Windell The South Haven Area Water & Sewer Authority received a progress report about the wastewater expansion feasibility study at its regular meeting on February 26, 2025.Presented by the firm of Fleis & Vanderbrink, a civil engineering firm…
Commissioners approve to borrow $7.5 million for DTRF
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 25, authorized the county treasurer to borrow up to $7.5 million for the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund to ensure timely reimbursement to taxing authorities.The…
Max Gilbert to ski in Special Olympics
LAWTON – Max Gilbert began volunteering at White Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, Lawton, in October 2024. In addition to volunteering at White Oaks, Gilbert finds time to at-tend Van Buren Intermediate School District, (VBSISD) powerlifting and running six…
4-H auction and breakfast nets nearly $4k in donations
The recently held Van Buren County 4-H Leaders’ Association Auction and Breakfast was well attended by 90 guests, and 40 4-H youth. The breakfast brought in $680. The in-person auction, by Shane Harris, Harris Auction Services, Cassopolis, brought in $1,302,…
Can you identify this Vehicle?
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Sheriff’s deputies are asking for help from the public to identify the suspect in a hit and run crash that occurred in the 32000 block of County Road 669 in Porter Township.…
South Haven wrestlers have strong season
By John RaffelCorrespondent Coach Brad Adamson had several talented wrestlers this season as South Haven and provides various comments on each one.Senior- Jocelyn Saucedo “wrapped up her high school wrestling career this weekend as a three time state qualifier, two…
Boys’ Basketball Roundup Three Rivers bounced in opening round of districts
THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ boys’ basketball season cam e to an end Monday night, losing in the opening round of Division 2 District 48 play to Vicksburg at home 58-28, their third loss to Vicksburg this season.Vicksburg took a…
Girls’ basketball district pairings confirmed
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Postseason action for local girls’ basketball teams is about to get underway next week, and district tournament matchups were announced Sunday.Opening round games in district play begin Monday, March 3, with district…
