Beyond Bones closes its Allegan store
By Gari Voss The Arc of Allegan County Board has announced that its all-natural dog treat business and the storefront known as Beyond Bones will close by February 28, 2025. The business was created in July 2021 to provide employment…
Tech Center celebrates new auto tech building with ribbon cutting ceremony
Faculty, students, and the community gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Allegan Area ESA Tech Center Auto Tech Building on Thursday, January 9, 2025. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of a $7 million state-of-the-art facility designed…
Life as Performance Art
According to physicians, therapists, pollsters and others, we are sadder than in the past. We smile less and feel gloomier, leaving many without much hope or enthusiasm for the future.In fact, about one in four, or some two billion people,…
Mike’s Musings: Is insurance claim worth chopping your feet off?
In the midst of all the drama many of us experience I thought I’d write about an unusual story, actually better words would be strange and bizarre, that comes from the Ozarks in Missouri.Here’s the setup:A man wanted to cash…
Ransom Library announces acts for Winter Concerts
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The annual Winter Concert Series at Ransom Library has become a favorite for library staff members and patrons alike.This year’s event kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 16, with the band The Rebel Eves. MexiCuba and Kanola…
Chocolate Stroll scheduled in downtown Plainwell
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor February is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolate.That’s what makes the Chocolate Stroll in downtown Plainwell such a fitting event.Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the…
Plainwell boys swim & dive team breaks in new pool
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Christmas was over, but members of the Plainwell boys swim & dive team got one more gift on Monday, Dec. 30.That’s when the team took its first plunge into the district’s new pool, which is one…
Obituary: Jeffrey Mark Webb
Jeffrey Mark Webb, 67, of Allegan, MI passed away Monday, December 30, 2024. Born October 17, 1957 in Allegan, he was the son of the late Noel and Julia (Rockwell) Webb and on June 22, 1979 he married Julie Brosz.…
New Year’s Eve brought thousands for Ball Drop
By Gari Voss The air was crisp, and the precipitation magically stopped for the 8pm opening of New Year’s Eve 2025. Revelers began arriving early in anticipation of good food, music, and ice skating. Yup, the ice skating rink had…
Allegan wrestling wins tourney
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GRAND RAPIDS—Another weekend, another tournament championship for the Allegan boys wrestling team.One week after earning the top spot in the Comstock Invitational, the Tigers finished first at the West Catholic Dunneback Memorial Tournament on Saturday, Jan.…
Allegan County Sheriff’s Office K9s receive body armor
By Sgt. Blair Kacos & G. Voss The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office announced the donation of body armor for two of Allegan County’s finest – K9s Zadok and Kyro.“Kyro and Zadok will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to…
Mike’s Musings: Congress should not ban TikTok
There has been a new push in Congress to out right ban or heavily regulate TikTok. I’m neither a user nor am I fan of social media in general. However, to ban or heavily regulate the most popular social media…
Life as Performance Art
What was once known as suicide has been renamed by some “Assisted dying.” Both terms make me uncomfortable.Western culture has long abhorred suicide. The ancient Romans considered it a serious offense against the person, their family and the empire. If…
Guitar workshop offered at Ransom Library
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Is learning how to play a musical instrument on your list of New Year’s resolutions?If so, then the Ransom District Library just might be the place for you on Mondays beginning Jan. 6.Library director and former…
Otsego XC alumni compete at the collegiate level
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Alex Comerford wrapped up his collegiate cross country career in November at the NCAA Division 1 Championship in Madison, Wis.And a strong finish it was, as the 2019 Otsego High School graduate finished the 10k with…
Allegan wrestling competes at Comstock Invite
The Allegan wrestling team took a break from its Christmas break to compete in the Comstock Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 28.The Tigers had a good showing, winning the tournament from a team standpoint, while seven Allegan grapplers claimed weight-class titles.Allegan…
Obituary: Katherine Harrison
Katherine passed away, Saturday, December 21, 2024, at her home in Allegan. She was born on August 12, 1965, in Plainwell, the daughter of Carl and Marie (Opperman) Petersen. Over the years Katherine worked at many area factories. In her…
Obituary: Sidney Leroy Carns
Sidney Leroy Carns passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024, at the age of 89, in Portage, Michigan. Born on August 13, 1935, in Allegan, Michigan, he was a cherished son to the late James and Bertha Carns. Sidney’s formative…
Obituary: Neil Girke
Neil Girke, age 83 of Gobles, passed away Friday, December 27, 2024 at the Wings Home in Allegan with very loving care and has gone on to be with our Lord.He loved fishing, hunting, golf and singing hymns and songs…
Obituary: Kevin Gene Krotz
Kevin Gene Krotz, 64, of Hopkins, MI passed away Saturday, December 21, 2024 at University of Michigan Health West. Born April 20, 1960 in Allegan, he was the son of the late Robert and Geraldine Louise (Grauman) Krotz. Kevin had…
