Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Otsego Library hosts ‘Reading is Snow Much Fun’ program

Otsego Library hosts ‘Reading is Snow Much Fun’ program

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For more than a decade, patrons of the Otsego District Library have been treated each winter to the annual early literacy fundraiser, which has transformed the library into immersive, storybook-inspired experiences featuring themes such as Charlotte’s…

Bicyclist killed on Christmas night in Gun Plain Twp.

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A day that many consider to be one of the most joyous of the year took a tragic turn in Gun Plain Township on Christmas night.On Thursday, Dec. 25, a 52-year-old Plainwell-area man was killed after…

Allegan swim alumni visit current Tigers at recent meet

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It was a blast from the (not-so-distant) past for Allegan swim & dive coach Carol Gephart when the boys’ team hosted Sturgis on Dec. 16.Six former Allegan swimmers who are now competing at the collegiate level…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 4 min read

In the 1950 movie “Harvey” Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, a certifiable eccentric befriended by 6-foot invisible rabbit named Harvey.It’s a light comedy, but at one point Dowd says something meaningful: that in order to be liked, one had…

Mike’s Musings: When Silence Walks Louder Than Shouting

Mike’s Musings: When Silence Walks Louder Than Shouting

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 4 min read

In a world addicted to outrage, the most radical protest I’ve seen lately involved no slogans, no megaphones, and no demands shouted into the air. It was a line of Buddhist monks walking.I first noticed this on Facebook. The monks…

Hamilton / Allegan County mourn death of Chief Haverdink Struck by vehicle while assisting at accident scene

Hamilton / Allegan County mourn death of Chief Haverdink Struck by vehicle while assisting at accident scene

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 4 min read

By Gari Voss The call began as a medical incident on M-40 near 136th Avenue in Heath Township in Allegan County at about 6pm on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, but in an instant, everything went wrong when the announcement came…

Michigan’s largest New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Allegan

Michigan’s largest New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Allegan

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2025 2 min read

By Parker Johnson Bundle up and count down to 2026 with the LARGEST New Year’s Eve ball drop in Michigan!Downtown Allegan doesn’t have much in common with New York City, but one thing this small West Michigan community mirrors each…

DeVries reflects on time as assistant director at ODL

DeVries reflects on time as assistant director at ODL

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 6 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Wednesday, Dec. 3, marked the end of an era at the Otsego District Library.That’s when the library hosted Santa Storytime, which was the final program for Diane DeVries after a decade of service as the ODL…

OHS National Honor Society hosts annual toy drive

OHS National Honor Society hosts annual toy drive

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 4 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Each year, members of the Otsego High School chapter of the National Honor Society conduct an annual toy drive to support the efforts of the Otsego Christmas Ministries.This year’s drive raised approximately $9,000, which was used…

City of Plainwell looks at fire gear

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent At its meeting earlier this month, the Plainwell City Council was to consider purchase of Fire Gear according to NFPA Standards, which provide guidance on the lifespan and replacement criteria for turnout gear.It calls for mandatory retirement…

Allegan girls come up just short in season opener

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It was a game of two halves for the Allegan girls basketball team in its season-opening contest against visiting Watervliet on Friday, Dec. 12.The Tigers started strong, taking a 20-12 lead into halftime.But foul trouble plagued…

Plainwell swim & dive takes second place

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GRAND RAPIDS—Plainwell boys swim & dive coach Andrea Murphy said the Grand Rapids City Sprint is one of the more fun meets her team has all season.And the Trojans had every reason to enjoy themselves at…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 6 min read

Since the Great Covid Shut Down, Christmas has become very “the past.” I don’t blame it on the virus nor closures used to slow its progress.Some has come from our penchant for online shopping, ordering food and delivery services, plus…

Educators’ legacy lives on with$2.2 million gift to Fennville Public Schools

Educators’ legacy lives on with$2.2 million gift to Fennville Public Schools

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 4 min read

A generous planned gift from the estate of longtime educators James and Grace Walz will benefit Fennville Public Schools’ students and educators for generations to come. James and Grace dedicated decades to Fennville Public Schools. Grace taught U.S. History, World History, Michigan History, and Government for…

Oakwood Cemetery remembers veterans during Wreaths Across America

Oakwood Cemetery remembers veterans during Wreaths Across America

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 3 min read

By Gari Voss The temperature was below nippy, but the crowd that gathered reached about 100. Some came in uniform, others had worn uniforms, and most had been associated with someone who had served. Wreaths Across America was observed for…

Rossman Park neighborhood, some downtown areas on tap for 2026 improvements

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 2 min read

By Gari Voss As of mid-December 2026, about 90% of the engineering plans for the 2026 Phase of the Allegan Street Project are complete, but by listening to residents and their questions, the Abonmarche engineers and Allegan City Hall can…

Mike’s Musings: We Need The Good News of Christmas

Mike’s Musings: We Need The Good News of Christmas

Editorial Staff Dec 17, 2025 3 min read

I was searching for words that would express an uplifting spirit this Christmas season. Too many of us, my self-included, consider the holiday season to be a distraction rather than a time to rejoice. Well my friend, Glenn Mollette happened…

Creviston, Zupko join OHS band for holiday concert

Creviston, Zupko join OHS band for holiday concert

Editorial Staff Dec 10, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As Otsego High School band director Mitch Piersma was eating breakfast in the early morning hours on Thursday, Dec. 4, his phone rang.He was hesitant to answer.“I immediately starting saying, ‘No, no, no,’ before I answered…

Plainwell High School Student Senate hosts PCS Holiday Night

Plainwell High School Student Senate hosts PCS Holiday Night

Editorial Staff Dec 10, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Want to have fun while making a positive impact on the community?If so, then the Plainwell High School Student Senate has just the thing for you.On Monday, Dec. 15, the PHS Student Senate will host PCS…

OMS robotics teams wrap up successful season

OMS robotics teams wrap up successful season

Editorial Staff Dec 10, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor “How am I going to use this in real life?” or “When will I need this?”Those are questions many teachers have heard from students over the years.Members of the two Otsego Middle School robotics teams learned…