Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Plainwell Christmas Project opens enrollment

Plainwell Christmas Project opens enrollment

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project (PVCP) has been a staple in the community for more than 50 years, with the program helping to make the holiday season a little merrier for families in need who reside…

Otsego cross country teams win regional titles

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PORTAGE—Throughout the season, the Otsego girls cross country team—led by senior Emma Hoffman—has been ranked first or second in the Division 2 poll.So the Bulldogs entered the Division 2 regional at Portage West Middle School on…

Allegan football ends season with win over visiting Coloma

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The 2025 season ended on a high note for the Allegan football team.Led by a ground attack that amassed 376 yards, the Tigers racked up more than 400 yards of total offense to post the 44-37…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 7 min read

I have a niche genre of movies that make me happy. The basic plot is the main character sees others around him or her living in the shadowlands, takes action, faces challenges and drama, then the magic happens.One of the…

Halloween offers events around the county and beyond

Halloween offers events around the county and beyond

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 5 min read

By Gari Voss As Halloween arrives, families plan their evening of Trick-or-Treat excursions. In addition to corn mazes and walks through the woods, communities and organizations are planning for Trick-or-Treat or Trunk-n-Treat.Halloween is on Friday this year, so there may…

Northside Park Arsonist sentenced to 57 months to 10 years

Northside Park Arsonist sentenced to 57 months to 10 years

Jordan Wilcox Oct 29, 2025 4 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, September 2nd, firefighters were dispatched to Otsego’s Northside Park to battle a horrific blaze. While the flames remained contained to a small 20-by-40-foot area, the park’s beloved wooden play structure, known…

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers shouldn’t receive pay during shutdown

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers shouldn’t receive pay during shutdown

Editorial Staff Oct 29, 2025 4 min read

One of the consequences of a government shutdown should be that those legislators responsible for the shutdown should not receive their regular pay. In my mind they are just as much part of the government as the hundreds of thousand…

Do you need help? Write Us!

Do you need help? Write Us!

Editorial Staff Oct 28, 2025 3 min read

By Mike WilcoxOwner/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.…

OHS drumline participates in W. Michigan Drum Bash

OHS drumline participates in W. Michigan Drum Bash

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BYRON CENTER—Earlier this month, the Annual West Michigan Drum Bash took place at Byron Center High School.Among eight high school drumlines invited to participate in this prestigious event? None other than Otsego High School.“It was an…

OPS elementary students receive special performance

OPS elementary students receive special performance

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Students from Otsego Public Schools’ three elementary buildings—Alamo, Dix Street and Washington Street—recently took a field trip to Bulldog Stadium.The reason? To watch the high school marching band perform its halftime show along with teaching the…

PHS students use VR to learn about Holocaust

PHS students use VR to learn about Holocaust

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 1 min read

Students in Mrs. Trahan’s Holocaust class at PHS were granted a remarkable opportunity to enhance their studies through virtual reality. Thanks to a scholarship from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, the museum loaned VR headsets to the class.…

Otsego cross country teams claim Wolverine Conference titles

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PAW PAW—It was a double win for the Otsego cross country teams at the Wolverine Conference Championship Meet on Tuesday, Oct. 14.The Otsego girls dominated, winning with 18 points to finish just three points away from…

Allegan volleyball upends Trailblazers

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SAUGATUCK—A standout performance from Camdyn Drozd helped carry the Allegan volleyball team to a 25-21, 25-11, 25-17 win over host Saugatuck on Thursday, Oct. 16.Drozd racked up 12 kills and 13 digs, both of which led…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 7 min read

By G.C. StoppelEighty years ago this month a new kitchen appliance revolutionized cooking thanks to a young engineer who had worked late into the night on projects for the military.Percy Spencer had dropped out of school when he was 12…

November 4th elections affect several municipalities

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 7 min read

By Gari Voss Calling all resident who live in the cities of Douglas, Fennville, Holland Wards 4/9 and 5/11, Saugatuck, South Haven, and Wayland. Also needed are residents of Casco, Fillmore, Gun Plain, Hopkins, Leighton, Overisel, Salem and Wayland Townships.…

ESA decries loss of early childhood program funding

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 4 min read

By Gari Voss The budget signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer may have been lauded by some, but the early childhood programs across Michigan took a huge hit. All of the funding for the Great Start Collaborative programs were cut. Translated,…

BOC approvcs construction firm for medical facility improvements

BOC approvcs construction firm for medical facility improvements

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent Acting on a late addition to the Board of Commissioners (BOC) agenda at last Thursday’s nighttime annual meeting, former commissioner James Storey said the body approvedan agreement with Beckering Construction to manage the improvements to the county’smedical…

Mike’s Musings: Why Michigan Should Say “No” to Ranked-Choice Voting

Mike’s Musings: Why Michigan Should Say “No” to Ranked-Choice Voting

Editorial Staff Oct 22, 2025 5 min read

As Michigan stands at a crossroad on whether to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) statewide, voters and policymakers ought to pause and ask: what problem is RCV truly solving — and at what cost? The case against this change is stronger…

Allegan swim & dive team picks up victory over Hastings

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 min read

The Allegan girls swim & dive team earned an 85-75 victory over Hastings on Tuesday, Oct. 7.With such a small roster, the Tigers knew every swim would matter—and they rose to the challenge, according to head coach Carol Gephart.“The girls…

Otsego captures second consecutive regional crown

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor EAST LANSING—Prior to last season, the Otsego girls golf team had never won a regional championship.Now the Bulldogs have captured back-to-back regional titlesParticipating in the Division 3 regional at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers East on…

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.