Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Christmas events planned in Otsego, Plainwell

Christmas events planned in Otsego, Plainwell

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The song “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” was originally recorded by Perry Como in 1951.Nearly three-quarters of a century later, that classic holiday tune could be the theme for Plainwell and Otsego beginning…

Creviston returns to OHS to perform with band Dec. 4

Creviston returns to OHS to perform with band Dec. 4

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Music lovers, mark you calendars for Thursday, Dec. 4.That’s when professional soprano saxophonist Dr. Chris Creviston will join the Otsego High School band—under the direction of band director Mitch Piersma—for a very special performance.Creviston and the…

Girls Basketball Season Preview:

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 13 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANNew.That just might be the word of the season for Allegan under the guidance of first-year coach Ernie Ramirez.“We lost six seniors out of eight varsity players from last year, so the majority of the players…

Wayland’s Wolf, Hamilton’s Popma win titles at Division 3 State Finals

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HOLLAND—Wayland senior Laney Wolf ended her high school swimming career the same way she started it.As a state champion.Wolf, who won two individual Division 3 state titles as a freshman and another as a sophomore, took…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 6 min read

Even those closest to me don’ know that I am a time traveler and world adventurer. I don’t talk much about it because some of them would never understand.It began the Saturday afternoon Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary…

Two firms plan housing developments in Fennville

Two firms plan housing developments in Fennville

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 4 min read

By Gari Voss The process began four years ago when the Fennville Downtown Development Authority (DDA) engaged with nonprofit development group, Housing Next. Housing Next did pro bono work to assist the city in envisioning how best to utilize vacant…

Residents pack room to hear about Confluence’s dam plans

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 5 min read

By Gari Voss The Allegan High School Conference Center filled on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with residents eager to hear from representatives of Consumers Energy and Confluence Hydro regarding the transition of ownership of the Calkins Bridge Dam and twelve…

Mike’s Musings: Congress works parttime, but receives fulltime pay

Mike’s Musings: Congress works parttime, but receives fulltime pay

Editorial Staff Nov 26, 2025 4 min read

Every year, the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate release their official calendars, and every year the same disbelief follows: this is how many days our elected lawmakers plan to work?I saw the House of Representatives schedule for next…

Damick receives Educator of the Year honors for Plainwell Schools

Damick receives Educator of the Year honors for Plainwell Schools

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Evan at a young age, Heather Damick felt like she had a calling.“Early on, I  knew I wanted a career teaching and supporting children in some capacity,” she said. “My first job was a lifeguard for…

McLaren honored as Otsego Educator of the Year

McLaren honored as Otsego Educator of the Year

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shannon McLaren has been a fixture for Otsego Public Schools for nearly three decades.And in recognition of her unwavering dedication to the district’s students during that time, McLaren was named Otsego’s Educator of the Year for…

Boys Basketball Season Preview

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 13 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANBrian Baker may be new to the role of head coach at Allegan, but he is definitely not new to coaching hoops.Baker has 25 years of coaching experience.And he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen so…

Mike’s Musings: Thanksgiving us your time to express thanks

Mike’s Musings: Thanksgiving us your time to express thanks

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 4 min read

Thanksgiving has a way of arriving right when we need it most. After another year filled with the usual mix of noise—politics, inflation, crises abroad, and the ever-present rush of everyday life—this holiday stands as a rare invitation to stop,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 6 min read

Mother had a copy of a painting she kept in her Thanksgiving dinner file folder. Right after Halloween she took down our elementary school finger-painted masterpieces and used four magnets to hold the print on the refrigerator door. With it…

Wayland Union Schools cut ribbon on new admin building

Wayland Union Schools cut ribbon on new admin building

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 5 min read

By Gari Voss Wayland Union School District has a new Administration Building that is far more than office space for central office staff. The official ribbon cutting on Monday, November 10, 2025, gathered representatives from TowerPinkster (the design team), Triangle…

Citizens, City discuss strategic plan

Citizens, City discuss strategic plan

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 2 min read

Residents and business owners around Allegan gathered at the Allegan City Hall to examine a variety of pictures and renderings of Downtown Allegan. Each photo asked questions regarding what residents felt would improve that section of the city. Envisioning addressed…

Human remains found in Otsego Twp. ‘Welfare Check’

Editorial Staff Nov 19, 2025 2 min read

By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer  Allegan County authorities encountered a grisly discovery at the 600 block of Lincoln Ave. (Hwy 89), heading east into the village of Otsego last week. During a routine welfare check, possibly for a missing person, human…

Mitchell honors Jepkemawith Veterans Day speech

Mitchell honors Jepkemawith Veterans Day speech

Editorial Staff Nov 12, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, major hostilities of World War 1 were formally ended.Since then, Nov. 11 has been set aside to honor military veterans, first known…

Residents reminded about winter parking rules

Editorial Staff Nov 12, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With the calendar having turned from October to November, the City of Plainwell issued a reminder to its residents regarding the ordinance regulating overnight parking.Per the ordinance, parking a motor vehicle or trailer overnight, within the…

Plainwell swim & dive finishes second at league finals

Editorial Staff Nov 12, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BATTLE CREEK—Host Harper Creek ran away—or, more accurately, swam away—with the SCC title on Saturday, Nov. 8, racking up 527 points.But the three local girls swim & dive teams—Plainwell, Otsego and Allegan—had plenty to celebrate as…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Nov 12, 2025 4 min read

For someone who is not a certified member of the Handyman’s Union and a complete all-thumbs fiasco in most do-it-yourself projects, I find myself having to make a stop at a hardware store a couple times a week. Especially in…

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.