Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Toronto’s Rogers Centre provided unique experience

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20254 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The past couple of years, I’ve shared my experiences traveling to different Major League Baseball stadiums, providing my thoughts on each one and ranking them in terms of my favorites.Two years ago, that included an exhausting-but-fun…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20257 min read

    The other day I came across some World War Two era song books in the bottom of my accordion case.  They were published by what was then called the War Department and widely distributed by the USO to bases…

Mike’s Musings: Why You Matter More Than You Think

Mike’s Musings: Why You Matter More Than You Think

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20254 min read

In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, where headlines are filled with division, disaster, and doubt, it’s easy to wonder: What difference can one person really make?The truth? More than you could ever imagine.We are taught to look…

Cooler temperatures brought crowds to Allegan area

Cooler temperatures brought crowds to Allegan area

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20254 min read

By Gari Voss The first weekend in August 2025 brought some relief to temperatures over 90 degrees, and the residents around Allegan took advantage.For those in Fennville, the crowd gathered downtown on Thursday to say good-bye to July and enjoy…

Father, sons serve in county law enforcement

Father, sons serve in county law enforcement

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20253 min read

One family’s dedication to public service stands out – with three relatives serving in three different law enforcement departments across Allegan County.Tpr. Luke Greydanus with the Wayland Post has the unique opportunity to serve alongside his brother and father, albeit…

Man drowns at TriPonds resort

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20251 min read

An incident occurred at the TriPonds Family Camp Resort in Valley Twp at 3:30 on Saturday where a 60-year-old man drowned.Officials from the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the man was found unresponsive in the water by people at the…

Christian Neighbors hosts Back to School Celebration

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With July drawing to a close, the start of a new school year is creeping ever closer.Otsego Public School’s first day of classes is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19, while Plainwell Community Schools will welcome students…

Weather alters plans for Island City Festival

Weather alters plans for Island City Festival

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The potential for some rainy weather led to changes for this year’s Island City Festival.Most of the festival—originally scheduled to take place in and around downtown Plainwell on Saturday, July 26—was moved inside Plainwell High School’s…

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

Allegan Summer Tennis wraps up another successful season

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

The Allegan Summer Tennis Program recently wrapped up its 2025 season.And, as usual, the long-running program brought out dozens of children to learn the fundamentals of the sport at the Gary Ellis Courts on the campus of L.E. White Middle…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20257 min read

   We often ask each other, “What are your plans for today?”  which really means “What are your goals to accomplish and then check off your to-do list?”  Or we ask ourselves about our plans for the day. Is there…

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

Here we go again. This time it is too close to home. Another alleged nut-job gone crazy injuring a dozen people, some critical at a Wal Mart, not with a gun, but with an ordinary pocketknife. If it weren’t for…

Several municipalities, schools have contested elections Tuesday

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20257 min read

By Gari Voss Summer months are packed with outdoor activities, special events, family memories, and more. With the busy family schedules, many residents forget that there is often a “primary” election in August. On August 5, 2025, from 7am to…

Missing Kayakers Located in Kalamazoo River – All Individuals Safe

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

 The Plainwell Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce that several kayakers reported missing earlier Saturday have been successfully located and removed in the Kalamazoo River. All individuals are safe and accounted for. At approximately 7 pm on Saturday, a…

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

Local market raises money for family in auto accident

Local market raises money for family in auto accident

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari VossThe news could not have been worse. Village Market employee Jordan Otto and her husband Michael had been in an automobile accident as they were headed home from a shower. Jordan was pregnant and near delivery, but a…

OPS’s McCaw receives national recognition

OPS’s McCaw receives national recognition

Editorial StaffJul 23, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools director of communications Holly McCaw was completely caught off guard.In Washington D.C. for the annual National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National Seminar beginning Monday, July 20, McCaw was presented with the Learning…

Ransom’s Summer Celebration set for Friday, Aug. 8

Ransom’s Summer Celebration set for Friday, Aug. 8

Editorial StaffJul 23, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Since Ransom District Library hosted its first Summer Celebration in 2021, the event has become an annual tradition.That tradition continues on Friday, Aug. 8, with Ransom hosting this year’s Summer Celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.As…

Plainwell council sets rates

Editorial StaffJul 23, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PLAINWELL — Plainwell City Manager Justin Lakamper, at a recent meeting, discussed water and wastewater rates for the new budget year.A motion passed to adopt Resolution 2025-11 Water and Wastewater Rates for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.City Consultant Kelley…

Allegan’s Chestnut relishes Cooperstown experience

Editorial StaffJul 23, 20254 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Playing a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y.—home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame—is an amazing experience.Hitting your first ever home run there? That, as those MasterCard commercials say, is priceless.And that’s exactly what Allegan middle…