Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed
Here we go again. This time it is too close to home. Another alleged nut-job gone crazy injuring a dozen people, some critical at a Wal Mart, not with a gun, but with an ordinary pocketknife. If it weren’t for…
Several municipalities, schools have contested elections Tuesday
By Gari Voss Summer months are packed with outdoor activities, special events, family memories, and more. With the busy family schedules, many residents forget that there is often a “primary” election in August. On August 5, 2025, from 7am to…
Missing Kayakers Located in Kalamazoo River – All Individuals Safe
The Plainwell Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce that several kayakers reported missing earlier Saturday have been successfully located and removed in the Kalamazoo River. All individuals are safe and accounted for. At approximately 7 pm on Saturday, a…
Burnett appointed to 57th District bench
By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…
Local market raises money for family in auto accident
By Gari VossThe news could not have been worse. Village Market employee Jordan Otto and her husband Michael had been in an automobile accident as they were headed home from a shower. Jordan was pregnant and near delivery, but a…
OPS’s McCaw receives national recognition
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools director of communications Holly McCaw was completely caught off guard.In Washington D.C. for the annual National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National Seminar beginning Monday, July 20, McCaw was presented with the Learning…
Ransom’s Summer Celebration set for Friday, Aug. 8
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Since Ransom District Library hosted its first Summer Celebration in 2021, the event has become an annual tradition.That tradition continues on Friday, Aug. 8, with Ransom hosting this year’s Summer Celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.As…
Plainwell council sets rates
By John RaffelCorrespondent PLAINWELL — Plainwell City Manager Justin Lakamper, at a recent meeting, discussed water and wastewater rates for the new budget year.A motion passed to adopt Resolution 2025-11 Water and Wastewater Rates for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.City Consultant Kelley…
Allegan’s Chestnut relishes Cooperstown experience
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Playing a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y.—home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame—is an amazing experience.Hitting your first ever home run there? That, as those MasterCard commercials say, is priceless.And that’s exactly what Allegan middle…
Gear Up for the 2025 Allegan County Fair
By Gari Voss The Allegan County Fair 2025 is rapidly approaching, and there is much to consider before the gates open on Friday, September 5th. The Grandstand entertainment is set, and tickets are available. Be sure to purchase entertainer tickets…
Fennville voters to vote on schools bond proposal Aug. 5
By Gari Voss The residents of the Fennville School District will have an opportunity on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to pass a bond request that will reduce the school millage while making important improvements to all schools. This can occur…
Mike’s Musings: “Pay It Forward” Is a Powerful Idea Worth Embracing
In a world often overshadowed by cynicism, economic struggle, and divisive headlines, the simple idea of “paying it forward” offers a powerful counterbalance. It’s a concept built on selflessness—doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return, trusting…
Life as Performance Art
“History doesn’t always repeat itself but it often rhymes,” said Mark Twain. As I write this in mid-July, it looks like there will be a change. For better or worse, I’m not sure.A wonderful thing about a firmly-established republic or…
Robinson begins tenure as superintendent at OPS
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shortly after entering the field of education in the mid-1990s, Christie Robinson developed what she called her “10-10-10 plan.”“I was going to spend 10 years as a teacher, 10 years as a principal and ten years…
City of Otsego benefits from Eagle Scout project
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego’s Riverfront TOP Pavilion has three new picnic tables thanks to the efforts of Otsego High School junior Zachary Knapp.The tables—which were constructed as part of Knapp’s Eagle Scout project —are all Americans With Disabilities Act…
Top Senior Athletes: Otsego
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Caleb Wesseldyk started his athletic career at Otsego High School by winning a team state championship in boys cross country. He finished it by earning All-State in diving.For those achievements, among others, Wesseldyk was named the…
Ganges Twp residents object to proposed campsite
By Gari Voss What happens when a campground that has been a questionable neighbor appears to be in partnership with a group requesting a special permit to build another campground across the road from the existing business? Residents in Ganges…
29-year-old man drowns in river near Allegan Dam
By John RaffelCorrespondent Allegan County Central Dispatch received a 911 call on July 11 at approximately 8:06 p.m., staying that someone had fallen into the Kalamazoo River at the Allegan Dam and had not resurfaced.Another subject had also fallen in,…
Pick-up crashes in to semi, driver dies
On July 14th 2025 at 0619 hours Allegan County Central Dispatch received a call regarding a serious traffic crash that occurred on M-40 Ave near 141st Ave, in Fillmore Township. Preliminary investigation indicates that a pickup truck was traveling north on M-40 and went into the south…
Life as Performance Art
The optics don’t look regarding how our nation is handling the immigration situation.My ancestors came to the U.S. in the 1840s seeking a better life, more freedom from overreaching clergy and government, and a chance to own their own land.…
