Life as Performance Art
Memorial Day Monday, May 25 this year, is nigh upon us. Don’t mistake it for the Fourth of July, when our nation’s 250th birthday will deservedly be feted later in 2026, or Veterans Day Nov. 11 each year.Memorial Day began…
New water tower flag can be seen for miles
The American flag waves in the breeze atop South Haven’s new water tower on Blue Star Highway. The flag can be seen for miles. It is very fitting as our nation observes Memorial Day this Monday.
South Haven improves to 23-7
By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — South Haven’s softball team fell to 23-7 overall on May 16 with a 9-2 loss to Kalamazoo Christian.Madi Duda had two hits for the Rams while Raegan Hahn and Mia Holtmann both had RBIs.Addison…
Mike’s Musings: On this Memorial Day
Editor’s Note: I thought I would use my space to sometimes contributor, Jeffrey Brasie. As a Vietnam veteran, he offers a movie, book and TV show that honor best those that served. By: Jeffrey D. Brasie, M.A,This coming Monday, May…
South Haven hires new city clerk Brittany Abrams
By James Windell The City of South Haven has a new City Clerk after the City Council approved the hiring of Brittany Abrams at the May 18, 2026, regular meeting.The City has been operating without a City Clerk since April…
Senior actors find a home at Readers Theater
By James Windell Sherry Saenz loves being an actor.“What I enjoy most about being in plays is the ability to step into someone else’s story and to help bring that story to life,” says the South Haven resident. “Mainly, I…
South Haven City Council approves Master Plan
By James Windell The City of South Haven’s Master Plan is the city’s long‑range blueprint for how it should grow, develop, and invest over the next five to 20 years.Not only is it a blueprint, but it also serves as…
Area towns to hold Memorial Day services
LAWRENCELawrence will hold a Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m., Monday, May 25, with a service to follow at Lawrence Village Park. Over 1,000 luminaries, representing Lawrence area military veterans, will be on display at Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, at approximately…
Veterans’ monuments undergo restoration at Lawton cemetery
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernew4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – What began as a project last fall to restore tombstones of service veterans buried in a Lawton cemetery, doing it out of the goodness of her heart to help out, continued last Saturday and…
Deputies honored for lifesaving efforts
On May 12, 2026, Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Erickson, Deputy Cody Bingaman, K-9 Charlie, and Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Larry Weers were honored during the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners meeting for their actions…
Paw Paw High School Class of 2026 Academic Elite announced
Paw Paw Public Schools recently announced the Class of 2026 Academic Elite students. Shown in the front row, from left, Caitlyn Crafts, Isabella McReynolds, Kassidy Derhammer, Emily Roy, Kate Rentschler, Aili Shaughnessy, and Ava Klimczak; in the second row, from…
Life as Performance Art
Conspiracy theorists have taken time off from party, gender and the usual run of politics to resummon and oldie-but-goodie, UFOs.Given the rancor and stridency such said-hot-buttonConsidering some of the other hot-button topics of sure to generate ranting and rancor, flying…
Paw Paw splits twin bill
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw split with Otsego on May 4, losing 9-3 and winning 4-0 in the second game.Varsity baseball couldn’t overcome defensive miscues and lost 9-3 in the opener. Ryan Holmes and Caden Bowneach had…
South Haven house destroyed by fire, six occupants evacuated, one hospitalized
Several fire departments responded to a dwelling fire in the City of South Haven last week.South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) was dispatched to a structure fire at 849 Phillips Street. Firefighters arrived to a house fully engulfed in flames.Mutual…
Opposing forces show up for Planning Commission rezoning hearing
By James Windell Hardly anyone ever shows up for Planning Commission meetings. Dedicated commissioners generally go about their business with very little fanfare and a lot of tedious, professional work.That wasn’t the case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, when a…
American flags placed on 1200 graves
Volunteers placed American flags on an estimated 1,200 graves of veterans buried at the City of South Haven Lakeview Cemetery as a prelude to the Memorial Day ceremony to be held on Monday, May 25. The estimated 30 volunteers represented…
National Day Of Prayer observed
The 75th anniversary of National Day of Prayer was marked Thursday, May 7, with the Greater Paw Paw Area National Day of Prayer Gathering at the County Park in downtown Paw Paw. Several prayers were lifted by area residents, focusing…
Man dies after being hit by train in Decatur
A 66-year-old man died on Saturday, May 9, after he was hit by a train in Decatur, according to the Decatur Police Department.The Decatur Police Department reported an Amtrak passenger train hit the man at approximately 10:45 a.m., after he…
Trinity Lutheran School salutes America
First through fifth grade students at Trinity Lutheran School, Paw Paw, shared a special evening on May 11, in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration.Under the guidance of teacher, Kelly Docsa, first and second grade students displayed individual dioramas…
Mike’s Musings: One Vote Can Change Everything – remember the tie vote in Hopkins
If anyone still doubts whether one vote matters, they need only look to what happened last Tuesday in Hopkins, a school district in Allegan County. In what some say was a record turnout, a bond issue did not pass because…
