Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 6 min read

It’s been a quarter-century since the death knell sounded for those old chests of drawers in libraries.Were you card-carrying member of the Olds era, you remember them. Three sections of cards, alphabetically organized according to author, subject, or title.We started…

Harsh winter weather grips Allegan and Van Buren Counties

Harsh winter weather grips Allegan and Van Buren Counties

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 3 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher A prolonged stretch of winter weather brought snow, extreme cold, and hazardous travel conditions to Allegan and Van Buren Counties over the past week, disrupting daily routines and prompting multiple school closings as districts prioritized safety.The active weather…

Allegan recycling center participates in controversial Day of Action

Allegan recycling center participates in controversial Day of Action

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 3 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Friday, Jan. 23, thousands of Minnesotans participated in an “ICE Out” Day of Action, involving rallies, marches, and protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident…

Cabin fever buster opportunities around the county

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 5 min read

By Gari VossAllegan, Michigan offers much more than just food and drink. There is no need to be disappointed about missing the sold out Comedy Night at Tantrick Down Under or the January Pub Quiz or the beginning of Pinball…

Mike’s Musings: Greenland Matters to U.S. Security — But Its People Should Choose Its Future

Mike’s Musings: Greenland Matters to U.S. Security — But Its People Should Choose Its Future

Editorial Staff Jan 28, 2026 4 min read

My son and I have always toyed with the idea of living in Greenland. I being drawn to the heat, couldn’t survive 50 degrees below zero. My son on the other hand is drawn towards the cold and has fancied…

Otsego food service staff earn ServSafe certification

Otsego food service staff earn ServSafe certification

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools’ food service staff set a new standard this year.Every member of the department earning a Managerial ServSafe Certification—a nationally recognized credential in food safety and handling.According to district officials, this marks the first…

Plainwell seeks public feedback on proposed Papermill site development

Plainwell seeks public feedback on proposed Papermill site development

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The City of Plainwell is asking residents to share their thoughts on a proposed commercial development at the former Plainwell Papermill property.Public feedback will be collected during the Plainwell City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 26,…

Mother/Son Game Night coming to OHS Jan. 30

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Meet the team, play some games, grab a snack and stick around for tipoff—that’s the playbook for this year’s Mother/Son Game Night at Otsego High School.The event is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, and will run…

Christian Neighbors offers ‘Story Hour Cook’ for young chefs

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor If your child enjoys stories and isn’t afraid to get a little flour on their sleeves, Christian Neighbors has an event that might be right up their alley.At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, Christian Neighbors…

Allegan girls earn win over Delton

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor DELTON—When the Allegan girls basketball team traveled to Delton on Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Tigers were at less than full strength.Sickness had hampered the Tigers’ roster, limiting how many players were available for first-year coach Ernie…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 6 min read

1-22 Stoppel-cr By G.C. StoppelTwice, in less than 12 hours and from two different sources, I heard basically the same message on how to deal with the swirling chaos in much of the news.The first was when I watched the…

Dreary, freezing, snow mark Martin Luther King Day

Dreary, freezing, snow mark Martin Luther King Day

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 1 min read

Downtown Allegan on Monday afternoon looks rather forlorn as Hubbard St. is covered in snow with plow drifts ten feet high. Usually it is extremely difficult to find a parking space, but not on this day.

Warming Center open for those seeking shelter, warmth

Warming Center open for those seeking shelter, warmth

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 1 min read

The January high temperatures have continually been in the teens or low twenties when the average is usually around 30 degrees. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of Will and Angela Walker, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and the First…

Freezing temperatures combined with lots of snow make travel difficult

Freezing temperatures combined with lots of snow make travel difficult

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 3 min read

A massive chain-reaction pileup involving more than 100 vehicles snarled Interstate 196 near Zeeland on Monday morning, January 19, leaving several people injured and forcing a lengthy closure of the highway amid hazardous winter conditions.The crash — reported at about…

Chief Judges named to Allegan County Courts

Chief Judges named to Allegan County Courts

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 9 min read

By Gari Voss The Honorable Matthew Antkoviak of the Allegan County 48th Circuit Court received notice from the Honorable Megan Cavanagh, Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, that he was reappointed to Chief Circuit Court Judge in Allegan County…

Mike’s Musings: The roadblocks to a cancer cure are frustrating

Mike’s Musings: The roadblocks to a cancer cure are frustrating

Editorial Staff Jan 21, 2026 4 min read

Every few years, the same frustrated question resurfaces: With all the money, technology and brainpower in the world, why haven’t we cured cancer yet? It’s a fair question. We’ve put men on the moon, decoded the human genome and carry…

A new reading companion arrives at Otsego Library

A new reading companion arrives at Otsego Library

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2026 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Young readers at the Otsego District Library have a new reading partner—one who never tires of holding a book.The library recently received “Come Read With Me,” a life-size bronze sculpture by internationally recognized sculptor Tuck Langland.The…

PCS Highlights Free Webinars on Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Families in the Plainwell district looking for financial aid guidance may want to mark their calendars. Michigan Student Aid is hosting several upcoming webinars on the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.In a recent message to families, Plainwell Community…

Plainwell starts quick and holds off Otsego at end

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2026 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Would the Otsego boys basketball team extend its winning streak, or would Plainwell bounce back from a tough loss to Mattawan three days earlier.That was the question when the Bulldogs hosted the archrival Trojans on Friday,…

Allegan cheer takes first at league jamboree

Editorial Staff Jan 14, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SCHOOLCRAFT—So far, so good for the Allegan competitive cheer team when it comes to its pursuit of a third straight SAC championship.The Tigers opened the conference schedule at the Schoolcraft Jamboree on Thursday, Jan. 8, placing…

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) is accepting sealed proposals for an interior remodel of a portion of the Rivers Enrichment Center located at 1200 W. Broadway Street. The project involves renovation of an interior area that was part of the building’s former hotel use and was not included in the renovation completed approximately seven years ago when the building was converted into the Rivers Enrichment Center. Proposals must be received by Wednesday, February 25, 2026 by 2:00pm EST. Bid documents may be obtained by contacting the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging. The COA reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

All communications regarding this RFP shall be directed to:
Pamela Riley
Executive Director, St. Joseph County Commission on Aging
Phone: (269)279-8083 Email: priley@sjccoa.com
OR
Gary Oberlander
Maintenance Department
Phone: (269) 279-8083 Email: goberlander@sjccoa.com