Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Otsego softball takes two from Plainwell

Editorial StaffApr 9, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—The cold never bothered me anyway.That’s a line from the hit song “Let It Go,” which was featured in the Disney hit movie “Frozen.And that could also be the motto for the Otsego softball team from…

Beacon Health to acquire Allegan, Plainwell hospitals

Beacon Health to acquire Allegan, Plainwell hospitals

JordanApr 9, 20255 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher For the second time in six years, Allegan’s hospital will be under new ownership. Beacon Health System is a South Bend-based, non-profit healthcare provider with more than 8,100 associates, 1,000 physicians, half a dozen hospitals in Northern…

Hopkins Tech Vikes face stiff state competition,head to internationals

Hopkins Tech Vikes face stiff state competition,head to internationals

Editorial StaffApr 9, 20255 min read

By Gari Voss Thursday, April 3, 2025, Hopkins High School Tech Vikes began the preliminaries for the FIRST in Michigan State Robotics Competition. After intense competition all season, Tech Vikes 2054 entered the competition ranked 25th in Michigan. They would…

Mike’s Musings: Measles comeback? Stop the hysteria

Mike’s Musings: Measles comeback? Stop the hysteria

Editorial StaffApr 9, 20253 min read

I keep receiving emails from public health officials about the threat of measles. Just like a week ago, I read a release that announced two cases of measles had been diagnosed in Michigan. I had thought measles were a thing…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 9, 20255 min read

I keep hearing rumors about the Administration selling off the U.S. Post Of-fice as another cost-cutting measure. Maybe it is true; maybe not; maybe the idea is being floated to see what our reaction will be.I think it is goofy…

Plainwell mill damaged by strong winds

Plainwell mill damaged by strong winds

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The storm system that swept through the area during the evening on Sunday, March 30, brought with it heavy rain and damaging winds.Among the casualties of those winds was Building 2 of the mill complex on…

Otsego Arts Competition seeks to draw artists from SW MI

Otsego Arts Competition seeks to draw artists from SW MI

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20253 min read

By Elizabeth Abbott The Otsego Arts Council is excited to host the fourth Otsego Arts Competition, formerly known as The Art Thing.Beginning in 2021, this event has been an opportunity for local artists to display art and compete for cash…

Hawkeye baseball rallies for victory

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20251 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HAMILTON—After suffering a pair of losses to Spring Lake the previous day, the Hamilton baseball team hosted Spring Lake for a single game on Friday, March 28.And it appeared as though the Hawkeyes would drop a…

Boys Track Preview

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20257 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANCoach: Mike ChalupaTop returning athletes: Sylar Bush, sr. (pole vault, sprints); Jacob Cranmer, sr. (sprints); Colby Bishop, soph. (sprints/jumps); Oliver Burnett, soph. (distance); Kellen Chalupa, soph. (distance); Hunter McKee, soph. (distance); Cooper Prentice, soph. (distance); Ezra…

Con Agra closure puts Fennville on edge

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20254 min read

By Piper Raab The million square foot fruit canning and frozen fruit processing manufacturing plant, Con Agra Foods, located in the city of Fennville, officially announced a future closure plan, slated for June 27th, 2025. City Administrator, Katie Beemer said,…

Seven inmates honored at graduation ceremony

Seven inmates honored at graduation ceremony

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20256 min read

By Piper Raab The Community Reentry Unit Program for qualified inmates at the Allegan County Corrections Center is a quarterly intensive education and life skills preparation program with a Christian foundation. The program is directed and managed by Lead Jail…

Planwell mill strongly damaged in latest storm

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The storm system that swept through the area during the evening on Sunday, March 30, brought with it heavy rain and damaging winds.Among the casualties of those winds was Building 2 of the mill complex on…

Mike’s Musings: Nuclear energy is back

Mike’s Musings: Nuclear energy is back

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20253 min read

With all the talk about solar and windmill energy and how they will power our country in the future, we hear very little about nuclear plants that are being recommissioned.Nuclear power is considered by many to be the most efficient,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 2, 20256 min read

President Trump has announced he plans to somehow annex or take over Canada and make it into our 51st state.I am not certain of the finer details of his aspiration and question if he has any real plans. Besides, we…

Autism program to move from OPS to home districts

Autism program to move from OPS to home districts

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the past several years, Otsego Public Schools has served as host to a county-wide autism program.However, that will change at the conclusion of the current school year.Due to a space crunch faced by OPS, Level…

Otsego names three finalists for superintendent role

Otsego names three finalists for superintendent role

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20255 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Saturday, March 22, the Otsego School Board interviewed a pool of seven candidates for the district’s soon-to-be vacant superintendent position.That pool was narrowed to three finalists, who participated in a second round of interviews on…

Baseball Season Preview:

Editorial StaffMar 26, 202514 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANThe 2025 season will be the final prep campaign for Allegan seniors Nate Kuebler (pitcher/corner infield) and Elliot Leece (utility), both of whom have been in the program all four years of high school.Allegan coach Mike…

Girls Soccer Season Preview:

Editorial StaffMar 26, 202512 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANSince he started coaching high school soccer at Lowell in 2000, Paul Legge has racked up a 393-142-33 record, including an 87-21-7 mark in Allegan the past seven seasons.The 2025 campaign will mark Legge’s last stand.“I…

Wayland Union Schools breaks ground on new pool facility

Wayland Union Schools breaks ground on new pool facility

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

Wayland Union Schools has begun construction on a new pool facility. This project is part of a $49.7 million bond that was passed by voters in May 2023.Wayland Union Board of Education accepted bids for this project in February 2025,…

Mike’s Musings: Destroying Tesla vehicles and dealerships makes no sense

Mike’s Musings: Destroying Tesla vehicles and dealerships makes no sense

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20253 min read

Maybe someone can explain to me why firebombing a Tesla dealership or a Tesla car makes sense.Over the past week Tesla vehicles have been front and center in the resistance directed at President Trump and his DOGE leader. Elon Musk.…