Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Three county commissioner races up for grabs

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Allegan County Board of Commission chairman James Storey, will be facing opposition for another two-year term this year.He will face opposition for the Republican nomination in the August primary.“On the county Board of Commissioners election…

Three vie for 39th District Republican nomination

Editorial StaffApr 27, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Candidates seeking election to the Michigan House and Senate have filed and Commissioner chairman James Storey has pointed out “it’s clear voters need to be sharply attuned to the lines drawn to cut Allegan County…

Otsego track teams top Vicksburg

Otsego track teams top Vicksburg

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor VICKSBURG—The Otsego track teams both moved to 2-0 in the Wolverine Conference with wins over host Vicksburg on Tuesday, April 12.The Otsego boys won 85.5-51.5, while the Otsego girls came away with the 73.83-63.17 victory.Jacob Zartman…

Otsego robotics team qualifies for FIRST World Finals

Otsego robotics team qualifies for FIRST World Finals

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20224 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego High School robotics team—the Alotobots—made history on Saturday, April 16.By virtue of their finish at the FIRST Robotics Michigan State Championship, the Alotobots were invited to participate in the FIRST World Finals in Houston,…

Obituary: Phyllis Marie Koster, 90

Obituary: Phyllis Marie Koster, 90

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

Phyllis Marie Koster met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 at Grand Village Assisted Living in Grandville, Michigan. She was born February 1, 1932 to Dr. Arthur and Ruby Larson. She married James Koster…

Obituary: Christopher Lee Johnson, 46

Obituary: Christopher Lee Johnson, 46

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

Christopher Lee Johnson passed away on December 9, 2021, in Kalamazoo, MI. He was born on April 26, 1975 to Donald Johnson, Sr., and Sharon Edge Jager.Christopher grew up in southwest Michigan. He graduated from Allegan High School, attended ITT…

Obituary: Marilois J. Leep, 89

Obituary: Marilois J. Leep, 89

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

Marilois passed away Monday, April 11, 2022 at Vicinia Gardens in Otsego. She was born August 25, 1932 in Wayland, the daughter of Joseph and Helene (Haveman) DeHaan. Marilois loved traveling and spending time with her family. She was a…

Mike’s Musings: Flying and masks- time to move on

Mike’s Musings: Flying and masks- time to move on

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

As a frequent flyer the last two years have been trying with the mask mandate put in place by our federal government. Flying this past Sunday only exacerbated the situation.Flying out of Orlando is always a challenge but Sunday “takes…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20225 min read

By G.C. StoppelSince I started writing murder mysteries, I have developed a new appreciation for flower and vegetable gardening.There are so many wonderful and deadly chemicals on the garage shelf or garden shed — herbicides, insecticides, cleaning products and more.…

Allegan boys’ track earns two wins

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PAW PAW—The Allegan track teams traveled to Paw Paw, with the boys’ squad coming home with a pair of Wolverine Conference wins.The Tigers beat the host team 73.5-63.5 and bested Dowagiac 94-42.The Allegan girls dropped decisions…

Proposals sought for memorial

Proposals sought for memorial

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Rick Brooks was an institution in Plainwell.Not only did Brooks serve on the city council for 26 years—including 20 years as mayor—but he was also involved in numerous community activities such as Dr. Seuss Night at…

May elections support schools, roads and special services

May elections support schools, roads and special services

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20225 min read

By Gari Voss The Elections Office of the County Clerk/Register’s Office coordinates and administers all federal, state and local elections in Allegan County. Spring election turnouts are historically overlooked by voters, but the ballot proposals put forth by schools, cities…

Schools, roads, special services on May 3 ballot

Schools, roads, special services on May 3 ballot

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20225 min read

By Gari Voss The Elections Office of the County Clerk/Register’s Office coordinates and administers all federal, state and local elections in Allegan County. Spring election turnouts are historically overlooked by voters, but the ballot proposals put forth by schools, cities…

Area volunteers celebrated during Volunteer week

Area volunteers celebrated during Volunteer week

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20228 min read

By Gari Voss National Volunteer Week 2022 runs from April 17 through April 23, 2022. Faith-based, nonprofit, national service, military service and community organizations depend on selfless individuals to carry out the goals of each organization. The concept originated in…

Christian Neighbors offers options for hybrid auction

Christian Neighbors offers options for hybrid auction

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20223 min read

By Leslie Ballard Christian Neighbors is trying something a bit different this year for their major fundraiser. Thursday, May 12 will see the return of the Reflection of Hope Auction at 5:30 at the Silo while the online auction format…

Deputies investigating fatal accident on 58th St.

Editorial StaffApr 20, 20221 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Deputies with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal crash on April 16 at approximately 4:23 a.m. on 58th street near 130th Avenue in Manlius Township. Deputies say preliminary investigation shows that a southbound vehicle on…

Girls Track Preview:

Girls Track Preview:

Editorial StaffApr 13, 202211 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANCoach: Mike Chalupa (20th year)Returning letter winners: Lillie Barnhart (throws), sr.; Christa Lambert (throws), sr.; Hannah VandeVorren (throws), sr.; Sabrina Mills (high jump, sprints), jr.; Josie Navarro (distance), jr.Season outlook: Some people see the glass as…

Barr leads Plainwell soccer to victory

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20221 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—It might have been the Plainwell girls soccer team’s opening game of the season, but Kayla Bar appeared to be in mid-season form.Barr scored a pair of goals to lead the Trojans to the 3-0 victory…

Colleges should focus on more practical, less theory

Colleges should focus on more practical, less theory

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20223 min read

By Mike WilcoxPublisherI read a report a few days ago that lamented the decline in college enrollment in the state of Michigan, and the United States for that matter.Here, Central Michigan University was down nearly 50 percent over the past…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20225 min read

By G. Corwin StoppelRobert “Bob” Ingersoll died just before the 20th century started and his name soon slipped into obscurity. Like his father, Congregationalist Rev. Robert Ingersoll, he was a target and magnet because of his outspoken and frequently unpopular…