Gear Up for the 2025 Allegan County Fair
By Gari Voss The Allegan County Fair 2025 is rapidly approaching, and there is much to consider before the gates open on Friday, September 5th. The Grandstand entertainment is set, and tickets are available. Be sure to purchase entertainer tickets…
Fennville voters to vote on schools bond proposal Aug. 5
By Gari Voss The residents of the Fennville School District will have an opportunity on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to pass a bond request that will reduce the school millage while making important improvements to all schools. This can occur…
Mike’s Musings: “Pay It Forward” Is a Powerful Idea Worth Embracing
In a world often overshadowed by cynicism, economic struggle, and divisive headlines, the simple idea of “paying it forward” offers a powerful counterbalance. It’s a concept built on selflessness—doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return, trusting…
Life as Performance Art
“History doesn’t always repeat itself but it often rhymes,” said Mark Twain. As I write this in mid-July, it looks like there will be a change. For better or worse, I’m not sure.A wonderful thing about a firmly-established republic or…
Robinson begins tenure as superintendent at OPS
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shortly after entering the field of education in the mid-1990s, Christie Robinson developed what she called her “10-10-10 plan.”“I was going to spend 10 years as a teacher, 10 years as a principal and ten years…
City of Otsego benefits from Eagle Scout project
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego’s Riverfront TOP Pavilion has three new picnic tables thanks to the efforts of Otsego High School junior Zachary Knapp.The tables—which were constructed as part of Knapp’s Eagle Scout project —are all Americans With Disabilities Act…
Top Senior Athletes: Otsego
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Caleb Wesseldyk started his athletic career at Otsego High School by winning a team state championship in boys cross country. He finished it by earning All-State in diving.For those achievements, among others, Wesseldyk was named the…
Ganges Twp residents object to proposed campsite
By Gari Voss What happens when a campground that has been a questionable neighbor appears to be in partnership with a group requesting a special permit to build another campground across the road from the existing business? Residents in Ganges…
29-year-old man drowns in river near Allegan Dam
By John RaffelCorrespondent Allegan County Central Dispatch received a 911 call on July 11 at approximately 8:06 p.m., staying that someone had fallen into the Kalamazoo River at the Allegan Dam and had not resurfaced.Another subject had also fallen in,…
Pick-up crashes in to semi, driver dies
On July 14th 2025 at 0619 hours Allegan County Central Dispatch received a call regarding a serious traffic crash that occurred on M-40 Ave near 141st Ave, in Fillmore Township. Preliminary investigation indicates that a pickup truck was traveling north on M-40 and went into the south…
Life as Performance Art
The optics don’t look regarding how our nation is handling the immigration situation.My ancestors came to the U.S. in the 1840s seeking a better life, more freedom from overreaching clergy and government, and a chance to own their own land.…
Mike’s Musings: It’s Time for the Fed to Lower Interest Rates – Before It’s Too Late
The Federal Reserve has done its job. Inflation, which recently reached its highest point in forty years, has gradually moderated. The labor market, while still resilient, shows signs of softening. Consumer confidence is shaky, small businesses are tightening their belts,…
Lyrics on the Lawn returns to Otsego Library in August
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Since making its debut more than a decade ago, the Lyrics on the Lawn concert series has become a summer tradition at Otsego District Public Library.And this year is no different.Lyrics on the Lawn is back…
City of Otsego adds another internet option
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor City of Otsego residents will soon have another option when it comes to internet service.On Monday, July 14, Surf Internet will begin install fiber internet throughout the majority of the City.A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to…
Otsego updates chicken ordinance
By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager Since last March, the City of Otsego has been discussing the possibility of allowing residential property owners to own chickens for the provision of eggs.To kick things off, we had a few residents come to…
Goddard takes reins of Martin varsity volleyball
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shannon Goddard and her family are deeply entrenched in the Martin community.Just how entrenched, you ask?Consider this: she’s a fourth-generation Martin High School graduate, making her children—Demetrius (class of 2020), Makala (class of 2024) and Kendra…
Life as Performance Art
My sister Beverly is the family genealogist. She started some 60 years and has stayed with it ever since.It is not exactly an obsession, but she has converted a bedroom into her office, complete with walls lined with shelves, and…
Mike’s Musings: Legislators, lobbyists married to one another is a conflict of interest
I was sent an article from the Lansing City Pulse written by Kyle Melinn, that claims there are four state legislators that are married to lobbyists.As Melinn says “that means in four households, one person works for the state to…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAlligator AlcatrazGreat news! Florida is building an “Alligator Alcatraz” for illegal immigrants in the Everglades ringed by gators, pythons and mosquitoes.Send me your tired, your poor and ICE will detain them in trailers, tents and tropical heat for…
Huberty named assistant principal at Plainwell HS
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A familiar face will be taking on a new role at Plainwell High School.Longtime PHS teacher/instructional coach Brian Huberty was recently named the schools’ new assistant principal.According to Huberty, who began his teaching career at PHS…
