Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Unified Champion Schools program expands in Otsego

Unified Champion Schools program expands in Otsego

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20256 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Unified Champion Schools program is expanding at Otsego Public Schools.The program, which started at Otsego High School two years ago, is now also being offered at Dix Street Elementary and Otsego Middle School.A Special Olympics…

OHS National Honor Society sponsors Share the Warmth event

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The recent arctic blast sent temperatures in the area crashing to or below zero degrees.Times like that serve as a reminder of how important it is to have the proper outdoor clothing during the harsh Michigan…

Allegan falls to South Haven

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SOUTH HAVEN—Too much Ly’Nique Cunningham.Yep. That pretty much sums it up when it comes to the Allegan girls basketball team’s game against host South Haven on Friday, Jan. 17.Cunningham scored 27 points to account for nearly…

Otsego’s Lane Blanchard joins dad in 100-win club

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Like father, like son.That age-old adage certainly holds true for the Otsego father-son duo of Jesse and Lane Blanchard when it comes to the wrestling mats.During the Three Rivers Super Duals earlier this month, Lane Blanchard—a…

Obituary: JoAnne Dolhay

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

JoAnne Dolhay of Kalamazoo, died on Monday, January 13, 2025 in her home. Born November 5th, 1946 in Allegan, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Dorothy Herpst. JoAnne’s life was defined by her determination, quick wit,…

Brrrrrrr…now that’s cold!

Brrrrrrr…now that’s cold!

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Allegan turned into a winter wonderland overnight as snow blanketed the city and temperatures slipped into the negatives.On Sunday, Allegan saw its warmest temperature of the month, 40 degrees. However, overnight, temperatures sharply dropped down by…

Obituary: Robert Blake (Bob) Perrigo

Obituary: Robert Blake (Bob) Perrigo

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

Robert Blake (Bob) Perrigo age 86, passed away peacefully with family at his side in Midland, MI on January 18, 2025.Bob was born and raised in Allegan, Michigan, where he attended high school before pursuing higher education at Michigan State…

Hospital Foundation recipient of Eva Martin Project

Hospital Foundation recipient of Eva Martin Project

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

By Gari Voss On January 16, 2025, Chief Development Officer Kim Loftus of the Borgess Allegan Foundation announced that Borgess Ascension Allegan, Borgess Lee and Borgess Pipp Hospitals were recipients of a donation of 355 stuffed animals and 130 blankets…

Fennville board, superintendent part ways

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

The Fennville Board of Education and Dr. Doug Greer have mutually agreed that a different approach is needed to align with the district’s evolving priorities. The Board would like to make clear that this decision is not related to any…

Dugan to lead commissioners

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — At its organizational meeting earlier this month, thenewly-seated Board of Commissioners (BOC) elected Gale Dugan of Otsego TownshipC to chair the body and Scott Beltman, as vice chair.Both were elected to one-year terms in their…

Jipp takes circuit court bench

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

ALLEGAN — In a ‘robing” ceremony earlier this month, Emily Jippwas presented with the black robe symbolic of the authority of a circuit court judge. Jipp was elected last November to become the county’s third circuit court judge, joining incumbent…

Dugan to lead commissioners

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — At its organizational meeting earlier this month, thenewly-seated Board of Commissioners (BOC) elected Gale Dugan of Otsego TownshipC to chair the body and Scott Beltman, as vice chair.Both were elected to one-year terms in their…

Obituary: Peggy Lynn Shamblin

Obituary: Peggy Lynn Shamblin

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

Peggy Lynn Shamblin, 70, passed away January 16, 2025, after an extended period of illness.  She was born November 24, 1954, to Paul & Lillian (Scott) Knapp of Pullman, Michigan.  She was the youngest child, having two older siblings, Patrick…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20256 min read

Only the Olds will remember the chart above the blackboard in every fourth-grade classroom across the nation. It was the alphabet, both capitals and lower-case letters, in cursive.It was bad enough having to learn how to print; now that we…

Trump made many promises, now let’s see if he can fulfill them

Trump made many promises, now let’s see if he can fulfill them

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

Welcome to the greatest political comeback ever recorded. America has gotten the president they wanted, and Trump has chosen the cabinet he wanted, and now it’s time to get down to business and make sure the promise that were made…

OPS asks for input in search for new superintendent

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools superintendent Jeff Haase recently announced his plans to retire following the conclusion of the current school year, thereby bringing to an end his 11-year tenure with the district.And while Haase will remain on…

Plainwell Community Schools opens new field house

Plainwell Community Schools opens new field house

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It was an event that was more than five years in the making.After voters passed a bond in 2019 for its funding, Plainwell Community Schools’ new athletic field house made its debut on Friday, Jan. 10.Featuring…

Otsego High School hosts Winter Guard Field Day

Otsego High School hosts Winter Guard Field Day

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For one day, Otsego will be the color guard capital of Michigan.Winter Guard Field Day—featuring 15 color guard teams from throughout the state—will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Otsego High School.The event starts at…

Plainwell boys open field house with win over Otsego

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—The first game in its new home was a rousing success for the Plainwell boys basketball team.Not only was a standing-room-only crowd on hand for the game the Plainwell Field House, but the Trojans also secured…

Allegan shakes off slow start to beat Fennville

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor When the Allegan boys basketball team hosted Fennville on Friday, Jan. 10, in marked the first game action for the Tigers in three weeks due to Christmas break.And Allegan showed a little rust early, scoring just…