Life as Performance Art
I love laughter within boundaries of good taste. We laugh when we see a pompous, self-important individual slipping on the sidewalk; it is not funny when it happens to one of The Olds or someone who is disabled. Rule #1:…
SH swimmers to compete in eight state championship events
By Tom Renner South Haven High School swimmers will compete in eight events at the MHSAA Division 3 State Championships to be held March 13-14 at the Holland Aquatic Center.Zander Duncan has qualified in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly…
SHAES constructs historical table
By Tom Renner The firehouse is “home” to first responders whose 24-hour shifts include eating meals together. A growing staff at South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) created a challenge of getting everyone around the table at mealtime.Some imaginative thinking…
Committee of the Whole considers STR renewals
By James Windell In 2025 the South Haven City Council passed a Short-Term Rental ordinance requiring all STR owners to register and have their STR approved in order to rent to visitors.Sounds like a reasonable requirement, right?But not so fast.…
Women who Care raise money for non-profits
By James Windell In 2015, four South Haven women decided to come together to make a greater impact on the community.Having heard about an organization called Women Who Care in Jackson, Michigan, the quartet of women adopted the model of…
Six departments battle Lawrence Township structure fire
Five area fire departments assisted the Lawrene Township Fire Department in battling a structure fire Monday, shortly before noon, at 54890 West Red Arrow Highway, Lawrence. The house, which was vacant, was reported on fire by a passerby. Other fire…
Lake Cora golf club property damaged
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW TOWNSHIP – A portion of a Paw Paw Township golf course was damaged early Sunday morning, March 8, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel…
Lawrence community launches effort to rebuild playground
LAWRENCE – The Lawrence community is launching a fundraising effort to rebuild the playground at Lawrence Village Park, a two-acre park that has served families for decades and draws visitors from across Van Buren County.The original wooden playground was built in 1995 during…
Gobles man arrested, faces charges of possession of counterfeit bills
GOBLES – An 18-year-old Gobles man was recently arrested after Michigan State Police reported that he used counterfeit money during a Facebook marketplace transaction in Van Buren County, according to a press release from the Michigan State Police Paw Paw post.Troopers from…
Paw Paw wrestler third at state
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw Varsity sophomore Kholby Armijo placed third at the MHSAA Individual State Finals at Ford Field this weekend.Kholby Armijo went 4-1 during the state tournament, battling through a highly competitive field to secure…
Mike’s Musings: A tornado for the ages- so many pitch in to help
When the tornado tore through Three Rivers, Michigan on the afternoon of March 6, it left behind a landscape that residents will remember for years. In a matter of minutes, powerful winds—later rated an EF-2 tornado with speeds near 130…
Life as Performance Art
My father would occasionally remind me that the older I got the better I would have to dress so I wouldn’t look like an old codger.Then he would point to someone and quietly add: “That fellow over there, he is…
Paw Paw basketball boys are district champs
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw was 2-0 at the boys basketball district last week to make it a 17-7 recordPaw Paw beat Otsego 71-40 and Parchment 63-33 in the title are and was dated to play March…
Mike’s Musings: Opinion: It’s Time to Ban Cell Phones From Classrooms
Walk into almost any classroom in America today and you’ll see a familiar sight: heads tilted down, thumbs scrolling, students half-present as glowing screens command their attention. Teachers often joke that they’re competing with a device designed by some of…
SHAWSA approves Kalamazoo Street project
By James Windell Portions of Kalamazoo Street in South Haven will be undergoing redesigning and reconstruction later this year.The project was given the go ahead at the February 24, 2026 South Haven Area Water and Sewer Authority (SHAWSA) meeting.The engineering…
Chamber of Commerce announces Give Back Program
By James Windell New businesses in the area can have the backing of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce in a newly inaugurated Give Back Program.“The Give Back Program is designed to foster and support a new business in…
SH Harbor Commission elects officers, hears about needed repairs
ByJames Windell In a Harbor Commission meeting on February 17, 2026, officers were elected.Kevn Conway, who is serving a three-year term that ends at the end of 2026, was re-elected Chair. Brent Nichols, whose term expires in 2027, was elected…
