Otsego woman charged in stabbing death
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorA fatal stabbing at an apartment complex in Otsego on Friday, May 10, left a 51-year-old man dead and a 24-year-old woman facing murder charges.At approximately 5:40 p.m., Allegan County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a…
Jim’s Storey, to be continued
By Donald Talonen On Wednesday morning of May 8th, the Allegan County Election Commission met to determine the fate of Jim Storey on the upcoming August 6th Republican Primary Election ballot. Jim Storey currently serves as the chairman of the…
Mike’s Musings: Homeless woman found in sign, RFK’s brain eaten by worm
I thought I’d take time out from writing about politics to offer a few weird, or absurd items that appeared in the news last week. It seems some news stories are getting weirder and weirder as weeks and months go…
Farmers’ markets open in Plainwell, Otsego this month
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The calendar has turned from April to May.And that means, among other things, it’s time for the local farmers’ markets to open for the 2024 season.The Plainwell Famers’ Market—located this year off of M-89 on the…
Otsego High School holds prom at Warner Vineyards
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor May 4 has come to be known as Star Wars Day.You know, “May the Fourth be with you.”It seemed only fitting, then, that the students who organized this year’s Otsego High School prom decided to go…
Otsego girls, Plainwell boys win in conference dual meet
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—The track teams from Otsego and Plainwell met for a Wolverine Conference dual on Tuesday, April 30, with the result being a split decision.The Plainwell boys won by an 81-56 margin, while the Otsego girls prevailed…
Allegan tennis places secondat TigerDuals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls tennis team served as host of the Tiger Duals on Saturday, May 4, welcoming Battle Creek Lakeview, Ludington and St. John’s to town.The Tigers finished with a 1-2 record for the day, besting…
Obituary: Charles Edward Payne
Charles Edward Payne, 95, of St. Joseph went to meet his Lord on Monday, April 29, 2024. “Ed” was born on May 27, 1928, in Allegan, MI, to Charles E. Payne, Sr. and Henrietta Louisa (Wesseldyk) Payne. He graduated from…
Obituary: Dorothy Ann (Opperman) Wilson
Dorothy Ann (Opperman) Wilson passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2024, at the age of 92, in Kalamazoo, Michigan at Rose Arbor, Centrica. Dorothy was born on March 3rd, 1932, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to the late Edward and Jennie…
Obituary: Darlene Kay Joostberns
Darlene Kay Joostberns was born on September 7, 1944, in Allegan, Michigan, to Albert Kizer and Coral (Meyer) Kizer. She was the second of three children and the only girl. Darlene grew up in Allegan and attended Allegan Public Schools.Darlene…
Obituary: Maryanne “Mimi” Gabriel
Maryanne “Mimi” Gabriel exited this world like she lived: in her own way and on her own schedule. On April 4th, 2024, Mimi passed beyond the veil after a long battle with lupus and a short fight with cardiac, G.I.,…
Life as Performance Art
Someone figured out a better idea. No more hose drinking or palm lapping. We had to have our water in a sanitary container – a thin, one-time-use bottle – so we would be safe from all those evil germs. We…
What’s the Storey Jim, in or out?
By Donald Talonen Recently, Jim Storey has found himself in the middle of a controversial situation regarding the Allegan County elections. It was reported that Storey might have been disqualified due to unresolved issues with campaign finance report filings from…
Fallen firefighter Gail VanAuken honored firetruck 1511
By Donald Talonen The rain didn’t stop the celebration dedicated to Gail VanAuken. The firehouse was packed with friends, family, and even strangers for the unveiling of fire engine 1511 in honor of the fallen firefighter, just in time for…
Mike’s Musings: Taxes just keep piling up
Like many of us I struggle with having to pay taxes each year. I often wonder why I put aside more and more each year to pay the government yet get lesser and lesser services.For instance, I’m drawing social security.…
OHS robotics team competes at FIRST World Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HOUSTON—FIRST Robotics held its 2024 World Finals at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston beginning Wednesday April 17, and running through Saturday, April 20.And for the third straight year, the team from Otsego High…
Wolverine Conference honors local scholar-athletes
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Each year, the Wolverine Conference honors two senior student-athletes from each of the league’s eight member schools with the Scholar-Athlete Award.Recognized from Otsego High School were Ben Ernstes and Chad Goodrich, while Issac Veen and Olivia…
Allegan tennis beats South Haven
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SOUTH HAVEN—The Allegan girls tennis team turned in a dominant performance in a SAC showdown against host South Haven on Thursday, April 25.Not only did the Tigers win all eight flights, but they did so without…
Otsego tennis sweeps past Plainwell
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—When the girls tennis teams from Otsego and Plainwell squared off on Wednesday, April 23, the match at No. 3 singles provided the most excitement.In the end, Bulldog Lydia Griffith prevailed 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-2 over…
Obituary: Wayne John Kooy
Wayne John Kooy, known affectionately as Wayne to his friends and family, passed away peacefully of natural causes on April 28, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born on April 26, 1932, in Lansing, Illinois, Wayne’s life was marked by a…
