Otsego prepares for 10th year of Gus Macker tourney
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament has reached double digits.That’s right. The Otsego Macker is turning 10 years old this year, as the first tournament was held in 2015.No event took place in 2020 due…
Top Senior Student-Athletes: Plainwell
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor During his time at Plainwell High School, 2025 graduate Adin Young could be found on the football field in the fall, on the wrestling mats in the winter and on the track in the spring.And while…
Fowl Play! Illegal cockfighting ring discovered
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Anyone who’s ever been to Hopkins knows that the sounds of barnyard animals are not an auditory anomaly. Due to the area’s strong dairy farming industry, cows can be heard all day long.However, on Saturday, July…
Area football teams begin ramping up for 2025 season
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor High school football players and coaches from Allegan County joined their counterparts across the state in preparing for the upcoming season on Monday, Aug. 11.That was the first day official practice was allowed by the Michigan…
High school gymnasium plans temporarily under water
Summer at Allegan Senior High School has been busy with renovations related to the Allegan Public Schools bond passed by Allegan voters in 2021. The $87.5 million bond has three phases that stretch from school year 2021-22 to Fall 2026…
Fennville voters approve bond referendum for facility Improvements
Fennville Voters Approve Bond Referendum for Facility ImprovementsOn August 5, 2025, voters in the Fennville Public Schools district approved a bond referendum to reinvest in the district’s facilities, focusing on improving air quality, safety, and learning environments for all students,…
Man drowns in Fennville pool
A 78-year-old man drowned in a pool at a home in Fennville on Saturday afternoon, firefighters say.It happened around 1 p.m. at a home on 124th Avenue. Fennville Fire Department Chief Paul Hapke says firefighters received a call about the…
Mike’s Musings: Michigan’s SNAP Fraud Crisis- fraud running rampant
Michigan’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a lifeline for roughly 1.4 million residents — is being chipped away, quite literally, by inadequate technology and sluggish enforcement.In fiscal year 2024, fraud in Michigan’s SNAP program surged by nearly 400%, reaching…
Life as Performance Art
“A man is just about as happy as he makes up his mind to be,” said Abraham Lincoln. A contemporary French writer we’ll call “C” added, “It takes tremendous courage to be happy.”“C” has every reason to be miserable. She…
Plainwell among districts for new program for children
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The start of the 2025-26 school year brings with it a new program from the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF) aimed at encouraging students, their families and entire communities to dream big.A Children’s Savings Account (CSA)…
Otsego wraps up summer programs with big events
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As has been the case for the past several years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons were full of family fun in Otsego this summer.In partnership with the Together Otsego Prospers (TOP), Otsego Public Schools held Summer…
Toronto’s Rogers Centre provided unique experience
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The past couple of years, I’ve shared my experiences traveling to different Major League Baseball stadiums, providing my thoughts on each one and ranking them in terms of my favorites.Two years ago, that included an exhausting-but-fun…
Life as Performance Art
The other day I came across some World War Two era song books in the bottom of my accordion case. They were published by what was then called the War Department and widely distributed by the USO to bases…
Mike’s Musings: Why You Matter More Than You Think
In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, where headlines are filled with division, disaster, and doubt, it’s easy to wonder: What difference can one person really make?The truth? More than you could ever imagine.We are taught to look…
Cooler temperatures brought crowds to Allegan area
By Gari Voss The first weekend in August 2025 brought some relief to temperatures over 90 degrees, and the residents around Allegan took advantage.For those in Fennville, the crowd gathered downtown on Thursday to say good-bye to July and enjoy…
Father, sons serve in county law enforcement
One family’s dedication to public service stands out – with three relatives serving in three different law enforcement departments across Allegan County.Tpr. Luke Greydanus with the Wayland Post has the unique opportunity to serve alongside his brother and father, albeit…
Man drowns at TriPonds resort
An incident occurred at the TriPonds Family Camp Resort in Valley Twp at 3:30 on Saturday where a 60-year-old man drowned.Officials from the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the man was found unresponsive in the water by people at the…
Christian Neighbors hosts Back to School Celebration
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With July drawing to a close, the start of a new school year is creeping ever closer.Otsego Public School’s first day of classes is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19, while Plainwell Community Schools will welcome students…
Weather alters plans for Island City Festival
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The potential for some rainy weather led to changes for this year’s Island City Festival.Most of the festival—originally scheduled to take place in and around downtown Plainwell on Saturday, July 26—was moved inside Plainwell High School’s…
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…
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