Allegan County News & Union Enterprise

Otsego golf qualifies for State Finals

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorADA—The Otsego boys golf team is headed to the Division 2 State Finals.Competing in the 18-team regional at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Ada, the Bulldogs posted a team score of 311 to snag the third and…

Lon C. Miller

Lon C. Miller

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

Lon C. Miller, 76, of Athens went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at home with his wife. He was born on March 7, 1948, the only son of Don and Dorothy Miller. Lon was united…

Grace Norris Hollaway

Grace Norris Hollaway

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

Grace was born and raised on the family farm in Martin, Michigan to John Norris and Ruth Margaret (Baughman) Norris. She graduated from Martin High School in 1948 and while living with her half-sister in Augusta, Michigan, she met Donald…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20247 min read

     Five, ten, or more centuries ago, the whole purpose of etiquette was to demonstrate partiality, respect, and submission to one’s “betters.”  That is something of an offensive way of saying being respectful to someone simply because he or she was of…

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The City of Allegan has partnered with…

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

The City of Allegan will host the annual Bridgefest celebration, a vibrant and fun-filled event taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024. From 11 AM to 10 PM, Downtown Allegan will come alive with a day packed with activities, entertainment,…

Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator

Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?Until last week, I could unequivocally say “no.” Now having been around for a while, I have ridden up and down on my share of elevators and never gave it a second thought…

Otsego claims Wolverine Conference championship

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorTHREE RIVERS—Otsego’s Spencer Shearer and Vicksburg’s Luke Malocha finished atop the leader board at the Wolverine Conference Championship at Pine View in Three Rivers on Wednesday, May 22.Shearer and Malocha each carded a three-under-par 69, finishing four…

Obituary: Hermina “Betty” VanDenBrink

Obituary: Hermina “Betty” VanDenBrink

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

Proverbs 31 says of a virtuous woman “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her…

Obituary: Roger J. Rininger

Obituary: Roger J. Rininger

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

Roger J. Rininger was unconventional, a masterful storyteller, and an intrepid traveler. He was a connoisseur of the unique and different. Throughout his life, he wove tales of adventure and wonder, captivating all who had the privilege of listening. Whether recounting his…

Obituary: Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20241 min read

On the evening of May 21, 2024, Donna Hazel (Schanz) Robart of Plainwell went to be with Jesus in Heaven, at the age of 94. Donna was born July 30, 1929, to William and Ada Schanz of Allegan. Donna and…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20247 min read

      For the past few summers, a small group of fellow journalists, all writers for the British magazine The Chap,  have banded together, along with some other friends, wives and sweet-hearts for their Annual Grand Flaneur. Last year there were some sixty “Chaps”…

Cities, townships observe Memorial Day

Cities, townships observe Memorial Day

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

Flag raising in Allegan Memorial Day parade goes through downtown Pullman The Otsego Laying of the wreath The Fennville VFW Post 7911 gathered the community for a Memorial Service at the Fennville Cemetery. By Gari Voss Rainy weather across Allegan…

A big dream of tiny houses

A big dream of tiny houses

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20245 min read

By Donald Talonen Pingree Park, formerly the property of Mr. T.M. Russell, is historically significant for being the location of the original courthouse in Allegan. While no official buildings have been present on the property since around 1865, in the…

Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped

Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20243 min read

Here I go again. One of my favorite rants is “Why do we send so much money and weapons to Ukraine to further a war they will never win?As a country we are nearly $34 trillion in debt and have…

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Island City Festival offers more, bigger carnival rides

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Carnival goers enjoy the activities at last year’s Island City Festival. The festival begins on Friday, May 31. (File photo) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The people spoke. And the organizers of the Island City Festival in Plainwell listened.“Based on feedback…

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Three Plainwell students honored in poetry contest

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Plainwell students (from left) Audra Huberty, Josie Longcore and Julia Bitely are seen at the awards ceremony for the Pestka Art & Poetry Contest. (Photo provided) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor On Monday, May 6, organizers of the Henry Pestka Art…

Helen Ave. reconstruction project underway in Otsego

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager The northside of the City of Otsego will be looking a little different this summer. Actually, it will be looking very different.It’s hard to miss the infrastructure project that has already commenced and will likely…

Plainwell wins three events at regionals, Otsego claims two events

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor RICHLAND—The Plainwell quartet of Hiro Nguyen, Donovan Ryan, Henry Cox and Isaac Veen entered the Division 2 boys track regional at Gull Lake High School ranked first in the 4×800 relay.And they didn’t disappoint, shaving four…

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Obituary: Mary K. Bastian

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Mary K. Bastian, age 71, of Gladstone, MI passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the UP Health System in Marquette, MI.Mary was born July 18, 1952 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Frank and Marilyn (Stigers) Bastian.…