By Gari Voss The August 6, 2024, Primary Election promised to unveil winners, and in a number of instances those winners have no Republican or Democrat opponent on the November 5, 2024, election ballot. Included on the Primary Election ballots…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor School hasn’t started up for local students just yet. (Although it’s getting close, as Otsego’s first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 19.)But for high school student-athletes who participate in fall sports, the 2024-25 school year…

Howley Bolen, Age 81, passed away Monday morning, August 5, 2024. Howley was born in Corydon, IN, on December 21, 1942, the son of Enoch and May (Smith) Bolen. On December 11, 1976, he married Sharon Lee Kelly who survives.…

Many of our parents cautioned us to “Be nice” when playing with other children,  talking with adults or any other social interaction. From the 1940s until May 1985, the Ivy Room was Durham, N.C.’s foremost and only kosher Jewish deli. It also served…

I take a lot of flack for my opinion column, Mike’s Musings, from time to time. Readers (and I’m so happy you read the paper) often disagree with what I have to say. That’s all right- everyone is entitled to…

With sadness over the loss of Commissioner Dean Kapenga (Dean), we seek to honor Dean’sexcellent citizen representation and service by accepting applications for the vacant District #3County Commissioner position. Under MCL 46.412, the Board must appoint a Commissioner bySeptember 4,…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Growing up, Sarah Taylor was certain of one thing: she did not want to go into the field of education.“Having had two parents as teachers—my father was a middle school teacher in Vicksburg and my mother…

By Donald Talonen On Friday, August 2, the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office, led by current Prosecutor Myrene Koch, filed an emergency motion with the Michigan Supreme Court to revoke the bond of a man convicted of criminal sexual conduct. The…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Are you ready to party, island style?If so, then Ransom District Library in Plainwell is the place to be on Friday, Aug. 9.Starting at 6 p.m., the library will host its annual Summer Celebration, featuring music,…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A day of fun on the Kalamazoo River took a harrowing turn for a group of kayakers on Thursday, Aug. 1.A group of 25 kayakers—21 of them children—had to be rescued after multiple kayaks overturned in…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Last summer, I had the opportunity to do a tour of Major League Baseball stadiums with my two sons and dad that featured seven parks in seven days.It was a lot of fun—and a little exhausting—and…

Kim Marie Ter Beek, age 62, of Hamilton, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Kim was a courageous, strong, and determined woman who overcame many obstacles in her life; including bravely facing…

Marian Frances Gowens, 59 went to meet her Lord and Savior on Monday July 22,2024.  A beloved wife, loving mother and grandmother, caring daughter and cherished sister, she will leave a large void in many lives. Born Marian Frances O’Bryant…

Joan M. Northrup, 97, of Allegan, peacefully passed away July 26, 2024, at American House in Holland. Joan was born to Macon and Nelle Morris in St. Louis, MO.  After high school, she furthered her education at Mac Murray College…

Kathleen Ann (Fischer) Scovill, known by everyone as Kathy, passed away unexpectedly on August 1st, 2024, at the age of 66, in Fennville, Michigan. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard & Dorothy Fischer; brother, Steven Fischer; and…

By Gari Voss Kayaking on the Kalamazoo River has replaced paddling in a canoe or floating down in a rowboat. What sounded like a great day for a kayak outing on the Kalamazoo turned into a stressful adventure for 21…

By Donald Talonen On Friday, August 2, the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office, led by current Prosecutor Myrene Koch, filed an emergency motion with the Michigan Supreme Court to revoke the bond of a man convicted of criminal sexual conduct. The…

Trouble might come with this rant, but I’ve about had it with United States Postal Service.They just recently raised the price of a postage stamp to 71 cents. It seems every year the price goes up another 5 cents. I’m…

Pat and I have been to Paris several times, so we were eager to watch the opening of the Summer Olympics there.  We knew we would see familiar haunts, which excited us. The creativity and style of Parisians appealed to…

By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager As many Otsegoans (I’m not sure if that’s an actual term or not, but I’m going to go with it) have already realized, we are having some issues with trespassers.In fact, it’s more than a…