Grace Norris Hollaway
Grace was born and raised on the family farm in Martin, Michigan to John Norris and Ruth Margaret (Baughman) Norris. She graduated from Martin High School in 1948 and while living with her half-sister in Augusta, Michigan, she met Donald…
Life as Performance Art
Five, ten, or more centuries ago, the whole purpose of etiquette was to demonstrate partiality, respect, and submission to one’s “betters.” That is something of an offensive way of saying being respectful to someone simply because he or she was of…
Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched
Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The City of Allegan has partnered with…
Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend
The City of Allegan will host the annual Bridgefest celebration, a vibrant and fun-filled event taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024. From 11 AM to 10 PM, Downtown Allegan will come alive with a day packed with activities, entertainment,…
Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator
Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?Until last week, I could unequivocally say “no.” Now having been around for a while, I have ridden up and down on my share of elevators and never gave it a second thought…
Otsego claims Wolverine Conference championship
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorTHREE RIVERS—Otsego’s Spencer Shearer and Vicksburg’s Luke Malocha finished atop the leader board at the Wolverine Conference Championship at Pine View in Three Rivers on Wednesday, May 22.Shearer and Malocha each carded a three-under-par 69, finishing four…
Obituary: Hermina “Betty” VanDenBrink
Proverbs 31 says of a virtuous woman “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her…
Obituary: Roger J. Rininger
Roger J. Rininger was unconventional, a masterful storyteller, and an intrepid traveler. He was a connoisseur of the unique and different. Throughout his life, he wove tales of adventure and wonder, captivating all who had the privilege of listening. Whether recounting his…
Obituary: Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart
On the evening of May 21, 2024, Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart of Plainwell went to be with Jesus in Heaven, at the age of 94. Donna was born July 30, 1929, to William and Ada Schanz of Allegan. Donna and…
Life as Performance Art
For the past few summers, a small group of fellow journalists, all writers for the British magazine The Chap, have banded together, along with some other friends, wives and sweet-hearts for their Annual Grand Flaneur. Last year there were some sixty “Chaps”…
Cities, townships observe Memorial Day
By Gari Voss Rainy weather across Allegan County may have dampened some spirits, but the remembrances for those who had died fighting for freedom did not disappoint. The Fallenby Duncan Campbell Scott Those we have loved the dearest,The bravest and…
A big dream of tiny houses
By Donald Talonen Pingree Park, formerly the property of Mr. T.M. Russell, is historically significant for being the location of the original courthouse in Allegan. While no official buildings have been present on the property since around 1865, in the…
Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped
Here I go again. One of my favorite rants is “Why do we send so much money and weapons to Ukraine to further a war they will never win?As a country we are nearly $34 trillion in debt and have…
Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The people spoke. And the organizers of the Island City Festival in Plainwell listened.“Based on feedback from last year, people were expecting more adult-sized activities (at the festival),” Island City Festival president Larry Gonzalez said. “So,…
Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Monday, May 6, organizers of the Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest held their annual dinner and awards ceremony at Frederik Meijer Gardens.And three Plainwell High School students were among those being honored.Josie Longcore, Julia…
Helen Ave. reconstruction project underway in Otsego
By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager The northside of the City of Otsego will be looking a little different this summer. Actually, it will be looking very different.It’s hard to miss the infrastructure project that has already commenced and will likely…
Plainwell wins three events at regionals, Otsego claims two events
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor RICHLAND—The Plainwell quartet of Hiro Nguyen, Donovan Ryan, Henry Cox and Isaac Veen entered the Division 2 boys track regional at Gull Lake High School ranked first in the 4×800 relay.And they didn’t disappoint, shaving four…
Obituary: Mary K. Bastian
Mary K. Bastian, age 71, of Gladstone, MI passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the UP Health System in Marquette, MI.Mary was born July 18, 1952 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Frank and Marilyn (Stigers) Bastian.…
Obituary: June A. Smith
June A. Smith passed away peacefully at Resthaven Care Center in Holland, Michigan on May 14th, 2024. June was born in Berwyn, Illinois on August 10, 1931 to her doting parents Edward “Ted” A. Reed and Helen Kientop Reed.As a…
Obituary: William Don Howard
William Don Howard, 73, of Allegan, MI passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Meadow Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bloomingdale. Born January 9, 1951 in Greely, CO, he was the son of the late Don and Elizabeth (Vivian)…
