Football Preview
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANThe year was 2010.The original “Avatar” ruled the box office. Barack Obama was in his first term as president of the United States. And Apple released the iPad.Also that year? The Allegan football team posted a…
Obituary: LaVerne “Vern” Dale Kraft
LaVerne “Vern” Dale Kraft went to be with his loving Savior Jesus Christ on August 13, 2024. Vern was born to his late parents Clifford and Daun (Curtis) Kraft on June 11, 1945, in Allegan, Michigan. Vern married the apple…
Local artist creates pen and ink books
By Gari Voss The Old Jail Museum in Allegan has been celebrating the Allegan County Historical Society’s 70th anniversary. To take a step back into Allegan County’s history, Dave Thompson convinced local artist Pat Broadhurst to compile some of her…
Allegan’s Roundabout opens to the public for Thursday walk
The Walkabout of the Roundabout in Allegan where M89 from the east and M40 from the south meet Hubbard, Ely and Cedar Streets will be Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 5:30-7:30pm. The MI Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the City…
Mike’s Musings: Political conventions no longer serve a purpose
Dominating the airwaves this week is the Democratic National Convention. Three weeks it was the Republican National Convention. Despite a lot of pomp and circumstance, very little gets done at these four-day lovefests. In my opinion, they should no longer…
Life as Performance Art
I just read in my old hometown newspaper that my elementary school principal died. Mr. Were was 95 and his passing brought back memories. This time of year our minds probably slip back to ready-for-a-new-year-of-school days. The whole cast old and new characters post-summer…
Football Begins
Bulldog Stadium in Otsego and Streidl Field in Plainwell were busy on Monday, Aug. 12.That’s because that was the first official day of football practice as allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association and players from both schools were…
Gregory named new principal at Gilkey
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor During his first nine years at Plainwell Community Schools, Cody Gregory has served as a third-grade teacher and a behavior support specialist.Now, he’s adding a third job title to that list: principal.Gregory was recently named the…
The primary voters have spoken
By Gari Voss The August 6, 2024, Primary Election promised to unveil winners, and in a number of instances those winners have no Republican or Democrat opponent on the November 5, 2024, election ballot. Included on the Primary Election ballots…
Student-athletes begin practice for fall sports
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor School hasn’t started up for local students just yet. (Although it’s getting close, as Otsego’s first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 19.)But for high school student-athletes who participate in fall sports, the 2024-25 school year…
Obituary: Howley Bolen
Howley Bolen, Age 81, passed away Monday morning, August 5, 2024. Howley was born in Corydon, IN, on December 21, 1942, the son of Enoch and May (Smith) Bolen. On December 11, 1976, he married Sharon Lee Kelly who survives.…
Life as Performance Art
Many of our parents cautioned us to “Be nice” when playing with other children, talking with adults or any other social interaction. From the 1940s until May 1985, the Ivy Room was Durham, N.C.’s foremost and only kosher Jewish deli. It also served…
Mike’s Musings: I’m disgusting and stupid- so readers say
I take a lot of flack for my opinion column, Mike’s Musings, from time to time. Readers (and I’m so happy you read the paper) often disagree with what I have to say. That’s all right- everyone is entitled to…
PUBLIC NOTICE – SEEKING COUNTY COMMISSIONER APPLICATIONS
With sadness over the loss of Commissioner Dean Kapenga (Dean), we seek to honor Dean’sexcellent citizen representation and service by accepting applications for the vacant District #3County Commissioner position. Under MCL 46.412, the Board must appoint a Commissioner bySeptember 4,…
Taylor takes over as principal at Dix St. Elementary
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Growing up, Sarah Taylor was certain of one thing: she did not want to go into the field of education.“Having had two parents as teachers—my father was a middle school teacher in Vicksburg and my mother…
Prosecutor files motion to revoke bond days after release
By Donald Talonen On Friday, August 2, the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office, led by current Prosecutor Myrene Koch, filed an emergency motion with the Michigan Supreme Court to revoke the bond of a man convicted of criminal sexual conduct. The…
Ransom Library set to host annual Summer Celebration
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Are you ready to party, island style?If so, then Ransom District Library in Plainwell is the place to be on Friday, Aug. 9.Starting at 6 p.m., the library will host its annual Summer Celebration, featuring music,…
Kayakers rescued near Otsego
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A day of fun on the Kalamazoo River took a harrowing turn for a group of kayakers on Thursday, Aug. 1.A group of 25 kayakers—21 of them children—had to be rescued after multiple kayaks overturned in…
Busch Stadium offers fun viewing experience
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Last summer, I had the opportunity to do a tour of Major League Baseball stadiums with my two sons and dad that featured seven parks in seven days.It was a lot of fun—and a little exhausting—and…
Obituary: Kim Marie Ter Beek
Kim Marie Ter Beek, age 62, of Hamilton, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Kim was a courageous, strong, and determined woman who overcame many obstacles in her life; including bravely facing…
