South Haven Area Emergency Services honors members
SOUTH HAVEN – When Ron Wise retired as Executive Director (Chief) of South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) in 2020 he didn’t put away his helmet and boots.Instead, he changed from wearing the traditional white helmet of Chief to the…
South Haven police chief quits after he failed to resign previous job
By James Windell After new revelations came to light, the South Haven Police Chief resigned on April 23, 2025.The second police chief to resign this year, Dennis Honholt began his duties on April 1, 2025. Just 23 days later, Honholt…
Ship grounded due to low river / lake level
Friends Goodwill was unable to leave port in South Haven for a Holland Tulip Time visit next week due to the low river/lake water level.
Two to oppose Brown for South Haven mayor
James Windell Several candidates in the races for South Haven’s Mayor and for open City Council positions met the filing requirements and will appear on the August Primary ballot.Incumbent Mayor Annie Brown will be opposed by present City Council member…
City Council approves Community Recreation Director agreement
By James Windell After the South Haven Area Recreation Authority presented the South Haven City Council with an amended Community Recreation Director agreement, the City Council unanimously approved the agreement on Monday, April 21, 2025.Scott Reinert, SHARA Recreation Administrator director,…
Seventy walk to overcome poverty
With temperatures in the mid-60s, the 43rd annual Van Buren County CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk was held Sunday afternoon, April 27. Stepping off at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church, the walk made its way through Downtown…
Paw Paw winery demolishes building for expanded parking
The demolition of a former auto dealership, then converted to several small shops, took place last week in Paw Paw on Kalamazoo Street. The building, owned by St. Julian Winery, located adjacent to the site, was razed to make way…
Volunteers honored for longtime service
Retired Paw Paw business owners, Mike and Marlene Lake, who operated M & M Sweet Shop in downtown Paw Paw for 21 years, retiring in 1993, retired last week from their volunteer jobs at Lakeview Foundation Community Thrift Shop. Mike,…
Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event
PAW PAW – Destination Paw Paw, a division of the Van Buren County CVB, gathered community members and partners at St. Julian Winery, here, on April 24 to celebrate the early successes of its newly launched brand. Destination Paw Paw officially…
Gobles boys have big day in Fennville
By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — On April 23 the Gobblers Tigers boys track team traveled to Fennville to compete against Coloma and Fennville in this week’s double dual.The Tigers came away with some outstanding performances and 2 more team wins…
Mike’s Musings: Number of college administrators alarming
Many of you have read my rants concerning higher education. I believe the cost is outrageous and it certainly far outweighs the benefit most students receive.One of the reasons costs have risen extensively over the past decade is that universities…
Life as Performance Art
If there is anything good to be said about doing mindless work such as blowing leaves out of the ground cover, it is that I allow my brain to wander off and play. When it comes back and we reengage,…
Life as Performance art
On the whole, as things go, this past week’s surprise natural gas outage, wasn’t really all that bad. It could have been worse; a lot worse. Fortunately, the disruption came when the weather was moderate, so we did not…
Mike’s Musings: Quicksand drama turns in to romantic relationship
I was flipping channels the other night when a question was asked. What did you fear most as a kid? There were a variety of answers but one of the answers was quicksand.I immediately concurred. Quicksand was fear of mine…
Ice cream shop reopens under new ownership
By James Windell If you’ve lamented the closing of Sherman’s Dairy Bar, a South Haven summer ice cream shop for the past 66 years, take heart.Sherman’s Dairy Bar, which closed last October, is now reopened under a new owner as…
SHARA surprised Council delayed Recreation Director approval
By James Windell Based on the interest in the proposed Community Recreation Director agreement, which the South Haven City council did not approve on April 7, it was not surprising that the topic would come up at the South Haven…
City Council holds capital improvements workshop
By James Windell In a special workshop meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, the South Haven City Council received a capital improvement plan.Presenting a 90-minute slide presentation on capital improvement for the years 2026 to 2032 was Department of Public…
Harbors may be affected by EGLE mandate
By James Windell Earlier this month Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga released a statement regarding the Whitmer Administration’s “ill-defined” EGLE requirements for PFAS testing as a condition for harbor dredging.EGLE is the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. It…
County man wins $1 million playing Michigan Lottery’s Cashword
A lucky mistake led to a big payday and a treasure hunt for a Van Buren County man who won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s Major Cashword instant game.“I play Cashword tickets occasionally, but purchasing this ticket was a…
