SHARK founder says cockfighting ring shared with police several weeks earlier
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer In a shocking discovery, 36 fighting birds — roosters, were found dead in a Hopkins Twp. property on Oct. 3.Local law enforcement received tips about a cockfighting and betting ring from an animal rights organization called…
Barron’s PCC hearing adjourned until Oct. 30
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer Mya Nicole Barron, the 15-year-old former AHS student who is facing weapons charges after allegedly threatening to attack Allegan High School in September, was in 57th District Court today for a PCC.Judge Christopher Burnett conducted the…
Man and his nephew charged in playground arson
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego man facing arson charges in connection to the fire that damaged the wooden playground structure at Northside Park has been identified as Michael Kilbourn.Kilbourn, 37, appeared in an Allegan courtroom via video on Tuesday,…
Otsego Band Invitational celebrates its 40th year
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego Band Invitational celebrated its 40th anniversary with this year’s edition, which took place Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bulldog Stadium.The fact that the event continues to thrive is a testament to Otsego High School band…
Fennville football falls to New Buffalo
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor FENNVILLE—Trinity Solis scored a rushing touchdown and Carter Thompson threw for a TD for the Fennville football team in the third quarter of the game with New Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 26.That was the good news…
Allegan swim & dive plays host to Otsego and Wayland
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls swim & dive team hosted Wayland and Otsego on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and it was the Wildcats who had the best showing.Wayland won 10 of the 12 events to post victories over the…
Life as Performance Art
Prior to the Presidential election of 1932, Will Rogers and Franklin Roosevelt were standing in front of a microphone at a public event. Of the two, Rogers was the better known and held in higher esteem by most Americans. …
Mike’s Musings: Elected leaders- Do the right thing, eliminate earmarks
One of my often rants is the use of earmarks or pork barrel, as we used to call them, projects sneaked into the federal or state budget at the last minute, to benefit a particular constituency. It happens every year…
Hoot-n-Howl arrives in Allegan this weekend
Hoot-n-Howl kicks off the Halloween season in Downtown Allegan on Fri., Oct. 3 and Sat., Oct. 4, 2025. Beginning in the late afternoon, Friday brings a number of adult oriented activities while Saturday offers a multitude of activities for children…
15-year-old female student makes threats against AHS
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer A 15-year-old female student is facing weapons charges after allegedly threatening to attack Allegan High School.According to Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office, they have brought charges of filing a false report, threat of terrorism, stealing a firearm,…
Allegan councilman awol, kickedoff board
By Gari Voss The Allegan City Council made the decision to remove a member from the Council. The root of the resolution fell on information that Mike Zeter had moved from his residence on Thomas Street to a location that…
Arrest made in Hopkins cockfighting incident
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Tuesday, September 23rd, 37-year-old Edin Dilson Rodas of Hopkins Township was arraigned in the 57th District Court on five felony charges related to cockfighting. Rodas and his wife own property just south of Hopkins, at 2534…
Liquid Note, Maude’s Taphouse set to close this weekend
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A pair of downtown Otsego businesses are closing their doors for good, the owners announced via social media on Wednesday, Sept. 17.Liquid Note—a brewery and live-music venue located at 119 E. Allegan St.—and Maude’s Taphouse (117…
Arrest made in connection with Northside Park fire
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the large, wooden playground structure at Otsego’s Northside Park was set ablaze.Less than three weeks later, charges have been filed in the case.According to Otsego Director of Police and…
Plainwell cross country teams perform well at Bangor Invite
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BANGOR—The boys cross country teams from Plainwell and Paw Paw had quite the battle for the top spot at the Bangor Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20.And despite putting all five of their scoring runners in the…
Allegan boys tennis team hosts stacked tourney
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the record, Allegan was not hosting the Division 4 Boys Tennis State Finals on Saturday, Sept. 20.But based on the level of talent on hand at the Gary Ellis Courts, it had the feel of…
Life as Performance Art
The name “Ned Ludd” was quietly whispered from person to person throughout the central part of England beginning in the early 1800s. People would say, “We’re going to meet up with Ned Ludd tonight at the Dew Droppe Inn.” …
Mike’s Musings: Erika Kirk’s Greatest Act of Courage-Forgiving the Unforgivable
When tragedy strikes, our instincts often turn toward anger, resentment, and the pursuit of vengeance. That is human nature. Yet, every so often, someone rises above those instincts and shows us a higher way — a path of grace that…
Hopkins Middle School teacher suspended for unprofessional comments
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Seventh-grade English teacher, Sarah Ruegsegger has been suspended from her classroom at Hopkins Middle School after being accused of making inappropriate comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.The alleged comments were first brought to light by a concerned…
AHS online student apprehended following threat
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Before school even started on the morning of Friday, September 19th, Allegan Public Schools (APS) notified parents that a former Allegan High School student who is currently enrolled in the Allegan Online program had been arrested…
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