Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Mike’s Musings: Release Assange now, he has endured enough punishment

Mike’s Musings: Release Assange now, he has endured enough punishment

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20223 min read

There are so many innocent people jailed for crimes they haven’t committed. I worked for a time, helping to expose some that were incarcerated, yet innocent. One of those, a man I truly admire is Julian Assange, and I hope…

Otsego posts victory over Plainwell

Otsego posts victory over Plainwell

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Cali Miller, Hannah Fitzpatrick and Kaitlyn Payseno formed quite the tremendous trio for the Otsego girls basketball team in its game with archrival Plainwell on Friday, Feb. 11.Those three combined to score 44 points in leading…

Allegan places second at quad

Allegan places second at quad

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A record-setting effort from Titus Smith in the 100-yard butterfly highlighted a runner-up finish for the Allegan boys swim & dive team at its home quad meet on Saturday, Feb. 12.Smith posted a time of 54.23…

Plainwell Community Schools celebrate Daughter Day

Plainwell Community Schools celebrate Daughter Day

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Daughters took center stage at Plainwell Community School’s Daughter Day on Saturday, Feb. 5.Nearly 200 participants registered for the event, which took place at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center and catered to students through sixth grade…

Otsego Middle School stresses digital safety

Otsego Middle School stresses digital safety

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20224 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Although the Internet, social media and other digital devices can provide students with opportunities unavailable to past generations, those same things also carry with them an inherent risk of danger.That’s the message the Otsego Middle School…

Otsego, Plainwell schools accept nominationsfor Outstanding People for Education awards

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Do you know someone who has made a difference in the lives of students who attend Otsego Public Schools or Plainwell Community Schools?If so, you can nominate that individual for a 2022 Outstanding People for Education…

Allegan City Council decisions complicated by inflation

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20227 min read

By Gari Voss Allegan’s City Council made a number of decision’s that stretched the budget, while improving the infrastructure throughout the city for years to come. Even with access to millions of dollars in government assistance grants, planned project bottom…

Commissioners tap Dunham to lead broadband expansion

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – The Allegan County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution at its meeting last week setting broadband expansion, water and wastewater infrastructure as priorities for the use of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation from…

Funding issues plague health department, state may have solution

Editorial StaffFeb 16, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Allegan County Board of Commissioners chairman Jim Storey reported the state legislature last week approved $1.2 billion in healthcare aid for Michigan residents, including funding for COVID-19 early treatment and various testing supports.A total of…

Mike’s Musings: A day I don’t want to repeat

Mike’s Musings: A day I don’t want to repeat

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20223 min read

Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed. One of those days was last week, when I boarded anairplane in Orlando to Detroit.Now all I had heard days before is how this once-in-a-decade blizzard was blanketing Michigan. Iassumed…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20225 min read

By G.C. StoppelOn a Saturday morning two somewhat related messages came across my computer.The first was from owners of Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris reminding me there would be a reading of James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses” in commemoration of the 100th…

Otsego girls post road win against Gull Lake

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20222 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor RICHLAND—Sophomore Hannah Fitzpatrick joined seniors Kaitlyn Payseno and Cali Miller to form quite the terrific trio for the Otsego girls basketball team in its non-league game against Gull Lake on Tuesday, Feb. 1.Those three Bulldogs combined…

Allegan bowlers thrive at individual tournament

Allegan bowlers thrive at individual tournament

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor NILES—The model of consistency.That’s how Allegan bowling coach Don Lamb would describe Ryan Brinks’ performance at the Niles Individual Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 5.In his six games, Brinks had a high game of 205 and a…

Otsego Library hosts reading forlibrarian’s debut children’s book

Otsego Library hosts reading forlibrarian’s debut children’s book

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20224 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As a clerk at the Otsego District Library for the past 13 years, Abby Lyne is regularly surrounded by thousands of books.One of those books holds a special place in Lyne’s heart … and for good…

Plainwell Community Schools updates mask policy

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the past two months, Plainwell Community Schools has required all students and staff members to wear masks while inside all district building during the instructional day due to high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases and…

Ransom Library offers escape room for patrons

Ransom Library offers escape room for patrons

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20223 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Three artifacts of the highest level of significance have been stolen from the Museum of American History in Washington D.C.Are you up to the challenge of recovering them?If so, then you’ll want to visit the Ransom…

Quick response saves crossing guard’s life

Quick response saves crossing guard’s life

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20224 min read

By Gari Voss Friday, February 4, 2022 began as normal for the mother-daughter crossing guard team at L.E. White Middle School. A vehicle had just sped along Tiger Path almost hitting Guard Karen Willey. Guard Carolyn Gilson told her daughter…

County seeks to add third circuit judge to bench

County seeks to add third circuit judge to bench

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position.“The Legislature recently passed and sent to the Governor a bill to add new circuit judge positions in Wayne…

Sheriff looking for 13-year-old who drove off in dad’s car

Sheriff looking for 13-year-old who drove off in dad’s car

Editorial StaffFeb 9, 20222 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on Sunday that it is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 13 year old Zander Canales, who drove away from his residence in Valley Township with…