Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Obituary: Dorothy Ann (Opperman) Wilson

Obituary: Dorothy Ann (Opperman) Wilson

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20243 min read

Dorothy Ann (Opperman) Wilson passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2024, at the age of 92, in Kalamazoo, Michigan at Rose Arbor, Centrica. Dorothy was born on March 3rd, 1932, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to the late Edward and Jennie…

Obituary: Darlene Kay Joostberns

Obituary: Darlene Kay Joostberns

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20245 min read

Darlene Kay Joostberns was born on September 7, 1944, in Allegan, Michigan, to Albert Kizer and Coral (Meyer) Kizer. She was the second of three children and the only girl. Darlene grew up in Allegan and attended Allegan Public Schools.Darlene…

Obituary: Maryanne “Mimi” Gabriel

Obituary: Maryanne “Mimi” Gabriel

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20244 min read

Maryanne “Mimi” Gabriel exited this world like she lived: in her own way and on her own schedule. On April 4th, 2024, Mimi passed beyond the veil after a long battle with lupus and a short fight with cardiac, G.I.,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20245 min read

Someone figured out a better idea. No more hose drinking or palm lapping. We had to have our water in a sanitary container – a thin, one-time-use bottle – so we would be safe from all those evil germs. We…

What’s the Storey Jim, in or out?

What’s the Storey Jim, in or out?

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20242 min read

By Donald Talonen Recently, Jim Storey has found himself in the middle of a controversial situation regarding the Allegan County elections. It was reported that Storey might have been disqualified due to unresolved issues with campaign finance report filings from…

Fallen firefighter Gail VanAuken honored firetruck 1511

Fallen firefighter Gail VanAuken honored firetruck 1511

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20243 min read

By Donald Talonen The rain didn’t stop the celebration dedicated to Gail VanAuken. The firehouse was packed with friends, family, and even strangers for the unveiling of fire engine 1511 in honor of the fallen firefighter, just in time for…

Mike’s Musings: Taxes just keep piling up

Mike’s Musings: Taxes just keep piling up

Editorial StaffMay 8, 20243 min read

Like many of us I struggle with having to pay taxes each year. I often wonder why I put aside more and more each year to pay the government yet get lesser and lesser services.For instance, I’m drawing social security.…

OHS robotics team competes at FIRST World Finals

OHS robotics team competes at FIRST World Finals

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HOUSTON—FIRST Robotics held its 2024 World Finals at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston beginning Wednesday April 17, and running through Saturday, April 20.And for the third straight year, the team from Otsego High…

Wolverine Conference honors local scholar-athletes

Wolverine Conference honors local scholar-athletes

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Each year, the Wolverine Conference honors two senior student-athletes from each of the league’s eight member schools with the Scholar-Athlete Award.Recognized from Otsego High School were Ben Ernstes and Chad Goodrich, while Issac Veen and Olivia…

Allegan tennis beats South Haven

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20241 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor SOUTH HAVEN—The Allegan girls tennis team turned in a dominant performance in a SAC showdown against host South Haven on Thursday, April 25.Not only did the Tigers win all eight flights, but they did so without…

Otsego tennis sweeps past Plainwell

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—When the girls tennis teams from Otsego and Plainwell squared off on Wednesday, April 23, the match at No. 3 singles provided the most excitement.In the end, Bulldog Lydia Griffith prevailed 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-2 over…

Obituary: Wayne John Kooy

Obituary: Wayne John Kooy

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20242 min read

Wayne John Kooy, known affectionately as Wayne to his friends and family, passed away peacefully of natural causes on April 28, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born on April 26, 1932, in Lansing, Illinois, Wayne’s life was marked by a…

Neighbors object to Hutchins Lake marina plans

Neighbors object to Hutchins Lake marina plans

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFifty-seven Hutchins Lake residents have sued to stop a developer from building what they call an illegally-permitted marina on the lake’s northeast side.David DeGroot, whose DeGroot Family Trust owns 79 acres, subdivided into 11 lots, with 500 feet…

Allegan Rotary celebrates its 100th anniversary

Allegan Rotary celebrates its 100th anniversary

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20244 min read

By Gari Voss On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Allegan Rotary, No. 1709. District 6360 celebrated its 100th year. Originally established as a men’s service club with the motto Service Above Self, it began installing women. The group became an…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20245 min read

Democrats and Republicans will hold national conventions this summer in Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively.I advise you avoid traffic snarls at these mutual admiration society meetings. Prices are apt to inflate then and there as well.Protesters are sure to turn out…

Mike’s Musings: Wanna make millions, become a politician

Mike’s Musings: Wanna make millions, become a politician

Editorial StaffMay 1, 20243 min read

Like most of you, I chose the wrong profession if my goal was to make a lot of money. It seems the best way to achieve financial success is to run for elected office, in particular a federal office.It would…

Ransom Library hosts Kids’ Day Event on Friday, May 3

Ransom Library hosts Kids’ Day Event on Friday, May 3

Editorial StaffApr 24, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Calling parents and guardians of children from zero to five years old.On Friday, May 3, the organization Help Me Grow Allegan is hosting a Kids’ Day Event specifically for pre-school-age children at Ransom District Library in…

Artwork from PHS students featured in area art show

Artwork from PHS students featured in area art show

Editorial StaffApr 24, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Sunday, April 28, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts’ annual High School Area Art Show will conclude its month-long run.Among the students whose artwork has been on display during the show are six from Plainwell High…

Election season has arrived – May 7th Proposals

Editorial StaffApr 24, 20242 min read

By Gari Voss The presidential primaries have passed, but the May 7, 2024, Proposal Election will soon arrive. The proposals will focus on Township Proposals and School Millage Renewals or Bond Issues. This spring election can be easily overlooked, but…

Allegan tennis takes top honors at Tiger Invitational

Editorial StaffApr 24, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The ability to perform well when it counts the most.That’s a trait Allegan girls tennis coach Damien Arthur is striking to cultivate in his team. And he thinks his players took a big step in the…