Wayland’s Wolf, Hamilton’s Popma win titles at Division 3 State Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HOLLAND—Wayland senior Laney Wolf ended her high school swimming career the same way she started it.As a state champion.Wolf, who won two individual Division 3 state titles as a freshman and another as a sophomore, took…
Life as Performance Art
Even those closest to me don’ know that I am a time traveler and world adventurer. I don’t talk much about it because some of them would never understand.It began the Saturday afternoon Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary…
Two firms plan housing developments in Fennville
By Gari Voss The process began four years ago when the Fennville Downtown Development Authority (DDA) engaged with nonprofit development group, Housing Next. Housing Next did pro bono work to assist the city in envisioning how best to utilize vacant…
Residents pack room to hear about Confluence’s dam plans
By Gari Voss The Allegan High School Conference Center filled on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with residents eager to hear from representatives of Consumers Energy and Confluence Hydro regarding the transition of ownership of the Calkins Bridge Dam and twelve…
Mike’s Musings: Congress works parttime, but receives fulltime pay
Every year, the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate release their official calendars, and every year the same disbelief follows: this is how many days our elected lawmakers plan to work?I saw the House of Representatives schedule for next…
Damick receives Educator of the Year honors for Plainwell Schools
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Evan at a young age, Heather Damick felt like she had a calling.“Early on, I knew I wanted a career teaching and supporting children in some capacity,” she said. “My first job was a lifeguard for…
McLaren honored as Otsego Educator of the Year
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shannon McLaren has been a fixture for Otsego Public Schools for nearly three decades.And in recognition of her unwavering dedication to the district’s students during that time, McLaren was named Otsego’s Educator of the Year for…
Boys Basketball Season Preview
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANBrian Baker may be new to the role of head coach at Allegan, but he is definitely not new to coaching hoops.Baker has 25 years of coaching experience.And he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen so…
Mike’s Musings: Thanksgiving us your time to express thanks
Thanksgiving has a way of arriving right when we need it most. After another year filled with the usual mix of noise—politics, inflation, crises abroad, and the ever-present rush of everyday life—this holiday stands as a rare invitation to stop,…
Life as Performance Art
Mother had a copy of a painting she kept in her Thanksgiving dinner file folder. Right after Halloween she took down our elementary school finger-painted masterpieces and used four magnets to hold the print on the refrigerator door. With it…
Wayland Union Schools cut ribbon on new admin building
By Gari Voss Wayland Union School District has a new Administration Building that is far more than office space for central office staff. The official ribbon cutting on Monday, November 10, 2025, gathered representatives from TowerPinkster (the design team), Triangle…
Citizens, City discuss strategic plan
Residents and business owners around Allegan gathered at the Allegan City Hall to examine a variety of pictures and renderings of Downtown Allegan. Each photo asked questions regarding what residents felt would improve that section of the city. Envisioning addressed…
Human remains found in Otsego Twp. ‘Welfare Check’
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer Allegan County authorities encountered a grisly discovery at the 600 block of Lincoln Ave. (Hwy 89), heading east into the village of Otsego last week. During a routine welfare check, possibly for a missing person, human…
Mitchell honors Jepkemawith Veterans Day speech
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, major hostilities of World War 1 were formally ended.Since then, Nov. 11 has been set aside to honor military veterans, first known…
Residents reminded about winter parking rules
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With the calendar having turned from October to November, the City of Plainwell issued a reminder to its residents regarding the ordinance regulating overnight parking.Per the ordinance, parking a motor vehicle or trailer overnight, within the…
Plainwell swim & dive finishes second at league finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor BATTLE CREEK—Host Harper Creek ran away—or, more accurately, swam away—with the SCC title on Saturday, Nov. 8, racking up 527 points.But the three local girls swim & dive teams—Plainwell, Otsego and Allegan—had plenty to celebrate as…
Life as Performance Art
For someone who is not a certified member of the Handyman’s Union and a complete all-thumbs fiasco in most do-it-yourself projects, I find myself having to make a stop at a hardware store a couple times a week. Especially in…
Merson community mourns loss of store destroyed by fire
By Gari Voss The call came to Gobles Pine Grove Fire Chief Brian Cronk at 5:58am that smoke was pouring from the northwest section of Merson Store at M-40 and 102nd Avenue. By the time Gobles Pine Grove and Allegan…
City Council re-elects Perrigo as mayor, schedules open houses
By Gari Voss The Allegan City Council reelected Traci Perrigo as Mayor and Peter Hanse as Mayor Pro Tem then handled some previous business. Police Chief Jay Gibson reviewed statistics for 2025 and updated the council on several situations that…
Do you need help? Write Us!
By Mike WilcoxOwner/Publisher Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.It…
