Rain fails to dampen Bridgefest as crowdsenjoy rides, booths, music
By Gari VossAllegan Bridgefest 2024 is now in the books. The combination of community tents, arts & crafts, rides, games, food and music equaled downhome FUN.Allegan District Library Director Pam Armstrong shared, “Bridgefest was phenomenal. I was so happy to…
Mike’s Musings: My Father, MY Hero
(I wrote this a year ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me) This week I give pause to reflect on my…
Life as performance Art
About a week ago, on a hot and humid afternoon, I was doing some work on the lawn and gardens. I was close to the sidewalk when a couple of visitors to town paused and commented on the amount of…
Flower Expo Retraction
by Donald Talonen The Flower Expo will not be held at the Allegan County Fairgrounds on August 7 and 8 as previously reported. The request to change the city ordinance to allow for the event to take place was passed…
OPS sets Meet Up & Eat Up, Bookin’ Bus schedules
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Free meals and books aplenty.That’s what Otsego Public Schools will be offering to the community during the upcoming summer break.OPS recently announced the schedule for its Meet Up & Eat Up meal program and the Bulldogs…
PHS honors top academic members of Class of ‘24
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorElizabeth French certainly knew how to stay busy during her time at Plainwell High School.Athletically, French was part of the girls swim & dive team, earning Most Improved in recognition of her hard work and determination.Her other…
Allegan succumbs to South Christian
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorHOPKINS—It was a battle of state-ranked teams as No. 15 Allegan squared off with No. 4 South Christian in a Division 3 girls soccer district final on Friday, May 31.And while the Tigers were able to come…
Otsego golf qualifies for State Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorADA—The Otsego boys golf team is headed to the Division 2 State Finals.Competing in the 18-team regional at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Ada, the Bulldogs posted a team score of 311 to snag the third and…
Lon C. Miller
Lon C. Miller, 76, of Athens went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at home with his wife. He was born on March 7, 1948, the only son of Don and Dorothy Miller. Lon was united…
Grace Norris Hollaway
Grace was born and raised on the family farm in Martin, Michigan to John Norris and Ruth Margaret (Baughman) Norris. She graduated from Martin High School in 1948 and while living with her half-sister in Augusta, Michigan, she met Donald…
Life as Performance Art
Five, ten, or more centuries ago, the whole purpose of etiquette was to demonstrate partiality, respect, and submission to one’s “betters.” That is something of an offensive way of saying being respectful to someone simply because he or she was of…
Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched
Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The City of Allegan has partnered with…
Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend
The City of Allegan will host the annual Bridgefest celebration, a vibrant and fun-filled event taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024. From 11 AM to 10 PM, Downtown Allegan will come alive with a day packed with activities, entertainment,…
Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator
Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?Until last week, I could unequivocally say “no.” Now having been around for a while, I have ridden up and down on my share of elevators and never gave it a second thought…
Otsego claims Wolverine Conference championship
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorTHREE RIVERS—Otsego’s Spencer Shearer and Vicksburg’s Luke Malocha finished atop the leader board at the Wolverine Conference Championship at Pine View in Three Rivers on Wednesday, May 22.Shearer and Malocha each carded a three-under-par 69, finishing four…
Obituary: Hermina “Betty” VanDenBrink
Proverbs 31 says of a virtuous woman “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her…
Obituary: Roger J. Rininger
Roger J. Rininger was unconventional, a masterful storyteller, and an intrepid traveler. He was a connoisseur of the unique and different. Throughout his life, he wove tales of adventure and wonder, captivating all who had the privilege of listening. Whether recounting his…
Obituary: Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart
On the evening of May 21, 2024, Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart of Plainwell went to be with Jesus in Heaven, at the age of 94. Donna was born July 30, 1929, to William and Ada Schanz of Allegan. Donna and…
Life as Performance Art
For the past few summers, a small group of fellow journalists, all writers for the British magazine The Chap, have banded together, along with some other friends, wives and sweet-hearts for their Annual Grand Flaneur. Last year there were some sixty “Chaps”…
Cities, townships observe Memorial Day
By Gari Voss Rainy weather across Allegan County may have dampened some spirits, but the remembrances for those who had died fighting for freedom did not disappoint. The Fallenby Duncan Campbell Scott Those we have loved the dearest,The bravest and…
