PCS honors Outstanding People for Education recipients
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Plainwell Community Schools recently honored three staff members as recipients of the 2026 Outstanding People for Education Award, recognizing their impact on students and the district community.Receiving the honors were Caitlin Bunker, Julie Jackson and Noel…
Plainwell preparing for annual Memorial Day parade
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Plainwell community will once again gather to honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to the country during the city’s annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 25.The parade is scheduled to…
Otsego native joins city police department
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego Police Department recently welcomed a familiar face to its ranks.Officer Elisabeth Hoffman, an Otsego High School graduate, has joined the department after previously serving as a road patrol deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s…
Allegan tennis secures another SAC/Lakeland title
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls tennis team continued its run atop the SAC/Lakeland Conference on Friday.The Tigers captured their fourth straight conference championship, doing so in dominant fashion at the conference tournament by winning seven of the eight…
Otsego earns home sweep over Vikings
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Host Otsego picked up a softball doubleheader sweep over Hopkins on Friday, May 8, earning a 10-0 win in the opener before following with a 14-5 victory in the nightcap.The Bulldogs combined for 24 hits across…
Life as Performance Art
Conspiracy theorists have taken time off from party, gender and the usual run of politics to resummon and oldie-but-goodie, UFOs.Given the rancor and stridency such said-hot-buttonConsidering some of the other hot-button topics of sure to generate ranting and rancor, flying…
Outstanding educators for 2026 honored
Each year, the Outstanding People for Education Awards shine a spotlight on individuals who go above and beyond to make a meaningful difference in Allegan County’s public schools. From dedicated educators and support staff to committed volunteers and administrators, these…
Upset residents address Gun Plain with data center concerns
By Joseph Schultz It was a large, angry, and fearful crowd that assembled for the Gun Plain Township Board Meeting on Thursday night. The crowd of residents were angry about the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that was being reviewed…
Hopkins bond election ends in tie
By Gari Voss May elections are often overlooked since not all precincts have millages on the ballot or official positions to fill. The May 5, 2026, Allegan County election involved only five proposals and six precincts. All proposals were important,…
Mike’s Musings: One Vote Can Change Everything – remember the tie vote in Hopkins
If anyone still doubts whether one vote matters, they need only look to what happened last Tuesday in Hopkins, a school district in Allegan County. In what some say was a record turnout, a bond issue did not pass because…
Plainwell Farmers’ Market opens Thursday in new downtown location
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A familiar community favorite returns this week with a fresh look and a new home.The Plainwell Farmers’ Market opens its 2026 season today (Thursday, May 7), with a move to Hicks Park in downtown Plainwell.The market…
Otsego, Plainwell seniors named Wolverine Conference Scholar Athletes
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A pair of seniors from both Otsego and Plainwell have been recognized for their accomplishments in the classroom and in athletics as part of the Wolverine Conference Scholar Athlete program.This year’s honorees from Otsego are Rebekah…
Hamilton soccer goes 1-1
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HAMILTON—A diversified scoring attack coupled with a stingy defensive effort proved to be a winning combination for the Hamilton girls soccer team against visiting South Haven on Friday, May 1.Joselyn Paskvan, Emma Slotman, Ellery Rietema, Ashlyn…
Otsego softball drops two to Paw Paw after sweeping Hastings
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PAW PAW—Otsego’s softball team was competitive throughout a Wolverine Conference doubleheader Monday, May 4, but came up just short in both games against Paw Paw.The Bulldogs dropped the opener 4-3 in a tightly played contest. Otsego…
Life as Performance Art
It turns out I’m a rarity: of all the last or surnames in the U.S., Stoppel ranks at 52,970th from the top of the charts. Still, with some 6.2 million Stoppels, it’s not surprising to discover at least two more…
Mother shoots 10-year-old son, then kills herself
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer On Wednesday April 29, 2026, a Fennville mom allegedly shot her 10-year-old son and then took her own life in their Allegan County home.Elisha Mulcahey and her son Daniel were found dead by Allegan County Sheriff…
Grieving family challenges state drunk driving laws
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer One year ago last month, the Seifried family of Allegan County experienced the worst kind of tragedy possible: the loss of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia Iris. On April 26, 2025, a drunk driver plowed into their…
Mike’s Musings: RIP Spirit, you were mocked by many, but this frequent traveler loved you
The news that Spirit Airlines has shut down operations after more than three decades in the sky feels like the end of an era—and not just for bargain travelers. For this frequent Spirit traveler, the news was devastating. I woke…
Plainwell MS bridge building program enjoys historic year
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It’s been a historic year for Plainwell Middle School’s bridge building program.Seven teams from the school qualified for the State of Michigan Design and Build Bridge Challenge, while another advanced to the national level, highlighting the…
Otsego softball wins two against Wyoming
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego softball team picked up a non-conference sweep Thursday, shutting out Wyoming before turning its attention to a tough conference doubleheader earlier in the week.The Bulldogs opened with a 5-0 win, finishing with 11 hits…
