Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Obituary: Steven John Cochran, 54

Obituary: Steven John Cochran, 54

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20222 min read

Steven John Cochran ended his journey on September 16, 2022, in the comfort of his home and loved ones both human and animal. He was born in Allegan, Michigan on July 4, 1968, to Doris Ann Smith and James Lee…

Obituary: Pamela Kay Wooten-Oram

Obituary: Pamela Kay Wooten-Oram

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20222 min read

Pamela Kay Wooten-Oram, 74 of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Thursday, September 22, 2022 at University of Michigan Health West in Wyoming, Michigan. Born October 11, 1947 in Mount Clemens, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Hilda…

Mike’s Musings: Forget fossil fuels, solar power-nuclear energy is best

Mike’s Musings: Forget fossil fuels, solar power-nuclear energy is best

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20223 min read

In attempting to break through the logjam between clean air advocates and those who think our reliance on fossil fuels will not go away any time soon, we have forgotten what I think could be an important alternative- nuclear energy.Green…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20226 min read

   It was a fizzle of a year for tomatoes, as most of my neighbors agree, and now in the waning days of September I am pulling the vines to add to the pile of yard waste waiting for the city…

Pullman’s Town Square becomes a reality

Pullman’s Town Square becomes a reality

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20224 min read

During the Ribbon Cutting for the new Pullman Town Square, Beautify Pullman President Deb Laraway gave special thanks to the major donors including Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), Consumers Energy Foundation, the Allegan County Community Foundation, Greater…

School worker arrested on child porn charges

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20222 min read

A Wayland Union Schools worker is on administrative leave after he was arrested this week on child-pornography charges.Michael John Batt, 35, of Jenison, was arrested after a state police investigation into his online activity, police said.He was arraigned Thursday, Sept.…

Man in serious condition after driving off bridge

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – The Allegan County Central Dispatch got a call on Saturday for a vehicle that had driven off of a bridge on Bridge Rd near Primrose Pl in Trowbridge Township.Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputies said they arrived…

City Council learns about energy program, approves gunsmith

Editorial StaffSep 28, 20226 min read

by Leslie Ballard Monday’s nights City Council meeting included some informational presentations, discussions and commission reports while action on the City Manager’s contract was tabled until the next meeting.Mayor Delora Andrus began the regular meeting by reading a Source Water…

Julie Milbocker – One of a Kind Teacher

Julie Milbocker – One of a Kind Teacher

Editorial StaffSep 26, 20228 min read

By Gari Voss Miss Julie Milbocker took her place behind the teacher’s desk in the Jewett School in the John Pahl Historical Village just as she did when she spent time teaching special education students at Jewett School before continuing…

Deadline looms for Plainwell scarecrow registration

Deadline looms for Plainwell scarecrow registration

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor It’s last call for anyone interested in participating in this year’s Scarecrow, Harvest and Sculpture Contest in downtown Plainwell.Entry forms for the contest—which can be found at the City of Plainwell’s website—must be completed and returned…

Christian Neighbors hosts Seventh Annual PATH Walk

Christian Neighbors hosts Seventh Annual PATH Walk

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20223 min read

Christian Neighbors is hosting its Seventh Annual PATH Walk to Stabilization on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Sherwood Park.The event, which includes a 1.5 or 3-mile walk, is set to begin at 2 p.m. Walker registration begins at 1:30 p.m.The first…

Plainwell Schools adds Home Outreach Coordinator

Plainwell Schools adds Home Outreach Coordinator

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20225 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Public school districts across the nation have experienced a decrease in enrollment since the onset of the COVID pandemic, as evidenced by a recent report from the federal Education Department.The report indicates 1.3 million fewer students…

Otsego cross country teams shine at Spartan Invite

Otsego cross country teams shine at Spartan Invite

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor EAST LANSING—For all of the success enjoyed by the Otsego girls cross country team—including back-to-back state titles in 2015 and 2016—the Bulldogs had never taken home a first-place trophy at the Spartan Invitational.That changed on Friday,…

Allegan remains unbeaten in SAC Valley

Allegan remains unbeaten in SAC Valley

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Allegan boys soccer coach Aaron Rogers wanted his team to set the tone early in its SAC Valley contest against visiting Parchment on Monday, Sept. 19.Mission accomplished.Led by three goals from Mikhail Peters, the Tigers scored…

Obituary: Tara L. VanOrder, 36

Obituary: Tara L. VanOrder, 36

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20221 min read

Tara passed away Thursday, September 15, 2022 in Iowa City. She was born September 8, 1986 in Holland, the daughter of Kenneth VanOrder and Corrissa Dineau. Tara loved going to the beach, spending time on the pier, attending races and…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20225 min read

      Not too long ago some wise guy or girl came up with the nutty idea that there ought to be age limits on politicians.  Just as here in Michigan and a few other states elected officials can be “termed out,” after…

Nagel shooting determined justified by MSP

Nagel shooting determined justified by MSP

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20227 min read

By Gari Voss Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Myrene Koch released a statement to the media that the officer involved in the Joseph Nagle shooting on June 16, 2022 would not be criminally charged. After an intensive investigation using numerous sources,…

Fair sets attendance, livestock records

Fair sets attendance, livestock records

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20222 min read

The Allegan County Fair wrapped up the 2022 Fair, Saturday, Sept 17th with some record breaking news! The 1st weekend there were heavy crowds and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias performed on Friday, Sept 9th and Sam Hunt with Travis Denning performed on Saturday, Sept 10th. …

Commissioner removed from office, later returns

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20223 min read

Commissioner removed from office, then let back onAn election filing error led to “an odd situation” and the removal then reinstatement of a Fennville City Commissioner over the last month.The issue was discussed by city attorney Dan Martin of Thrun…

Mike’s Musings: If only dreams of space flight were true

Mike’s Musings: If only dreams of space flight were true

Editorial StaffSep 21, 20223 min read

Watching a rocket launch into space never gets old for me. Last week I had the opportunity to view three nighttime launches, thanks to Space X’s aggressive launch schedule to send Starlink satellites in to space. Living on the Space…