Obituary: Jean Eleanor Tagg
Jean Eleanor Tagg, 97, of Allegan, MI passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital. Born April 15, 1927, in Trowbridge Township, she was the daughter of the late Harold David and Bertha Caroline (Hoskins) McKee and…
Obituary: Philip John Madalinski
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Philip John Madalinski on February 20, 2025. Philip was born June 30, 1960, in Allegan, Michigan, to his late parents Phillip and Josephine (Oleksy) Madalinski. He would meet his bride and best…
Obituary: James “Jim” Edwin Frederick
James “Jim” Edwin Frederick, 82, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025, in Hastings, Michigan. He was born on December 29, 1942, in Plainwell, Michigan, the son of Arthur and Virginia (Lloyd) Frederick. Jim graduated from Allegan High School in…
Five area churches donate disaster relief supplies
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Members of the Hopkins, Martin, Shelbyville, Allegan, and Wayland United Methodist Churches gathered together on Sunday, February 23rd to assemble buckets of supplies for the UMCOR disaster relief program.The UMCOR program aims to enable those affected…
Proposed Dollar General in Monterey Twp threatens local party store
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher After several years of fabricating raw steel into products and a few painful surgeries, Todd Bursma decided he needed a career change.He and his family sold their home, farm, and twenty acres of land, and moved…
Coffee with the Council
Tom and Rosie Hunter met with Allegan Councilmembers Will Walker and Melanie Hooker at Mugshots on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The council members are in their first terms on the city council and want to hear from the residents of…
Mike’s Musings: How do our public servants amass their huge new worths?
I often wonder if I chose the wrong profession. Don’t get me wrong I love my work, but sometimes toiling 60 hours a week becomes kind of a drag at my age.I should have run for election and become a…
Life as Performance Art
I find it hard to keep up with all the executive orders being signed by our President, then trying to understand how they might impact my life.One of Trump’s orders that caught my attention directed the people in charge of…
OHS senior helps Christian Neighbors with Share Table
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Well-known author and speaker Stephen Covey once said, “Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”Otsego High School senior Lexi Gross is doing just that.When she noticed a large amount of fresh fruit being…
Bulldog Esports Club starts at Otsego High School
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A group of 11 students recently made history at Otsego High School.They are part of the school’s inaugural Bulldog Esports Club, which held its first competition on Wednesday, Feb. 12.The Otsego team took on the team…
Plainwell hosts ribbon cutting at new field house
The new Plainwell Field House hosted its first even about a month ago when the high school basketball team’s welcomed archrival Otsego. And on Monday, Feb. 17, the district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility. Plainwell superintendent Matthew Montange…
Plainwell falls to Three Rivers in regional finals after beating Hamilton in semis
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor THREE RIVERS—After finishing second to Three Rivers in the Wolverine Conference standings, the Plainwell boys wrestling team got another crack at the Wildcats in a Division 2 regional final.Unfortunately for the Trojans, Three Rivers came out…
Allegan Co. wrestlers qualify for individual State Finals
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor When the Individual Wresting State Finals get underway at Ford Field on Friday, Feb. 28, Allegan County will be well-represented.A total of 36 local grapplers punched their tickets to the Finals by virtue of finishing in…
Obituary: Diane Kathline (Evans) Dietrich
Diane Kathline (Evans) Dietrich passed peacefully in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with family by her side. Diane was born in Allegan, Michigan to her late parents Robert and Marcelle (Ruhele) Evans on July 31, 1950. After high school Diane would work many…
Obituary: Earl Lee Gillette Jr.
Earl Lee Gillette Jr. (86) passed away February 9 at 12:15am. He passed away peacefully with his wife by his side. Earl was born and raised in Allegan, Mi. He married Patricia Lodge in 1957 and went on to have…
Swan Lake residents gather to voice water quality concerns
By Gari Voss Concerned residents around Swan Lake gathered on Monday, February 17, 2025, to examine taking the next steps in improving the water quality of their lake. Over the years, blue-green algae had increased, especially during hot weather. Algae…
Calkins Bridge Dam still in limbo
By Gari Voss Conversations and possible fate regarding Consumers Energy’s 13 hydroelectric dams that are spread across Michigan continue. Community meetings began during 2022 when community members came together several times to examine the condition of the dams and alternatives…
Mike’s Musings: Engaging with scammers- don’t follow my son’s lead
I was talking with my son recently, and somehow we got on the topic of these pre-recorded prank calls he used to get. Unlike most of us he enjoys engaging with these pranksters. He know they are fraudsters but gets…
Life as Performance Art
BY G.C. STOPPELI came to know John Thistle when we played bagpipes in the Fourth Battalion of the West Mosby Volunteers Band. The name came from a tiny village a few miles outside of Mosby, Mont. He was a good…
Otsego Hall of Fame welcomes three newest members
The Otsego Athletic Boosters welcomed the three newest members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb., between the girls and boys varsity basketball games.The Class of 2025 included Jesse Blanchard, Charity (Knight) Newby and Jessica (Sheen) Strickler.A ceremony…
