Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

3126 residences hooked up to county broadband so far

3126 residences hooked up to county broadband so far

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20242 min read

ALLEGAN — The $65 million project to bring broadband, hi-speed internet access to unserved areas of Allegan County, continues to connect residents to the world wide web. The county organized the project using $17 million in federal ARPA funds to…

Small Business Saturday brings wonderful surprises and a sad goodbye

Small Business Saturday brings wonderful surprises and a sad goodbye

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20244 min read

By Gari Voss Even with solid Black Friday sales and specials, the streets of Allegan were lined with vehicles belonging to shoppers taking advantage of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, 2024. Full parking spaces may have meant walking a…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20245 min read

 When it started getting cold this year and snow was in the air, someone spotted me walking and wanted to know why my coat was unbuttoned. “Don’t you know it’s cold?” she asked. If I don’t happen to have on my…

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Editorial StaffDec 4, 20243 min read

I found this post on Facebook. I unfortunately don’t know who the author is, but I haven’t read anything lately, that expresses best, how to live our life. Follow these basic tenets and you will be a great person. Personally,…

Otsego’s Hometown Christmas scheduled for Dec. 7

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in one of those Christmas movies that air on the Hallmark Channel?If so, then Together Otsego Prospers (TOP) invites you to come out for the…

Plainwell prepares to Light Up the Night on Dec. 6

Plainwell prepares to Light Up the Night on Dec. 6

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The annual Light Up the Night celebration in downtown Plainwell is always a special event, as it helps to kick off the Christmas season.This year, the event will include an extra element that will make it…

Misuse of funds being investigated

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The alleged misuse of funds involving the parent club of a local elementary school is currently being investigated.Although specific details have not yet been revealed, the investigation centers on a former member of the Gilkey Elementary…

Girls Basketball Season Preview:

Editorial StaffNov 27, 202414 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANLeading scorers Katelyn VanAtter and Carlee Rynearson are among the players Allegan coach Sharron Thompson lost to graduation from last year’s 7-15 squad.That’s the bad news for the Tigers.The good news? Six seniors who earned valuable…

Obituary: Roberta “Bobbie” (Parker) Wenzel

Obituary: Roberta “Bobbie” (Parker) Wenzel

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20244 min read

Roberta “Bobbie” (Parker) Wenzel, age 81 passed away on November 20, 2024. Like she lived, she died: fiercely and determined. Born on December 13, 1942, Bobbie was the eldest of four children of Douglas and Margaret (Whitcomb) Parker. She was…

Otsego boys fall to Vicksburg

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—A game-best 17 points from Louis DiGrandi wasn’t enough to lift the Otsego boys basketball team to a win in its season opener against Vicksburg on Monday, Nov. 25.Otsego fell by a score of 72-54.“Overall, Vicksburg…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20246 min read

    There is nothing new about the retail sector’s Black Friday except that it seems to start earlier this year.  The name comes from the hope that customers will do sufficient holiday shopping that they will convert eleven months or…

Mike’s Musings: Stop with excuses, buy local first

Mike’s Musings: Stop with excuses, buy local first

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20243 min read

It’s small business Saturday this weekend, and that gives me an excuse as to why you should shop with your small retailers and stay away from the big chains and online buying.Our small towns are treasures. People love to visit…

Downtown Allegan prepares for Festive Fridays

Downtown Allegan prepares for Festive Fridays

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

By Gari Voss December 2024 presents three Fridays for Downtown Allegan to turn into mini celebrations. On those three Fridays, stores remain open until 8pm. Along with the extended store hours, there are additional events. Each year, residents and visitors…

Cocaine valued at $4 million seized in Martin Township

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20242 min read

Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies seized 120 pounds of cocaine after they stopped a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 131 in Martin Township, early this week.Officials said the truck was pulled over during a routine commercial vehicle inspection when deputies became suspicious…

Perrigo named Mayor, Morgan Mayor Pro-Tem

Editorial StaffNov 27, 20249 min read

By Gari Voss The new council members were seated at the desk for the Monday, November 25, 2024, meeting. City Manager Joel Dye ran the meeting until the mayor and mayor pro tem were elected. An addition to the agenda…

Sincler named OPS Teacher of the Year

Sincler named OPS Teacher of the Year

Editorial StaffNov 20, 20244 min read

Bonnie Sincler knew from an early age the career path she wanted to follow.“Teachers have been a very influential part of what makes me who I am today,” Sincler said. “I always wanted to make that difference to someone else.”Sincler…

PHS girls basketball holds Holiday Giveback

Editorial StaffNov 20, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Plainwell girls basketball program is on a mission to make Christmas a little merrier for some local families.And you can help.The Trojans’ home opener against Three Rivers on Tuesday, Dec. 10, will be the Holiday…

Boys Basketball Preview:

Editorial StaffNov 20, 202414 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANYouth can be a double-edged sword.Just ask Allegan coach Quentin Edwards.“Our strength as a team is our youth,” said Edwards, who enters his fourth season at the helm in Allegan after leading the Tigers to a…

Obituary: Francis “Fran” John Pickett

Obituary: Francis “Fran” John Pickett

Editorial StaffNov 20, 20242 min read

Fran passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Kauhale Assisted Living & Memory Care. He was 89 years old. Born April 8, 1935 in Kalamazoo, MI to John & Lucille (Shearer) Pickett.Fran married June Vote on July 3,…

Obituary: Joan Arlene Jerome (Johnson)

Obituary: Joan Arlene Jerome (Johnson)

Editorial StaffNov 20, 20243 min read

Joan Arlene Jerome (Johnson), a beacon of love and faith, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2024, at the age of 88 in Zeeland, Michigan. Born on July 9, 1936, in Douglas, Michigan, Joan’s life was a tapestry woven with…