Courier-Leader, Paw Paw Flashes, & South Haven Beacon

Obituary: Peggy Lynn Shamblin

Obituary: Peggy Lynn Shamblin

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

Peggy Lynn Shamblin, 70, passed away January 16, 2025, after an extended period of illness.  She was born November 24, 1954, to Paul & Lillian (Scott) Knapp of Pullman, Michigan.  She was the youngest child, having two older siblings, Patrick…

Obituary: Dr. Martin John Bukovac

Obituary: Dr. Martin John Bukovac

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20254 min read

Dr. Martin John Bukovac, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Horticulture Department at Michigan State University (MSU), died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing, Michigan. He was 95 years old.The funeral service will be…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20256 min read

Only the Olds will remember the chart above the blackboard in every fourth-grade classroom across the nation. It was the alphabet, both capitals and lower-case letters, in cursive.It was bad enough having to learn how to print; now that we…

Trump made many promises, now let’s see if he can fulfill them

Trump made many promises, now let’s see if he can fulfill them

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

Welcome to the greatest political comeback ever recorded. America has gotten the president they wanted, and Trump has chosen the cabinet he wanted, and now it’s time to get down to business and make sure the promise that were made…

Residents want changes in proposed STR ordinance

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

By James Windell A special meeting of the South Haven City Council was called on Thursday, January 16, 2025, with just two items on the agenda. That limited agenda seemed to promise that the meeting would be brief and uneventful.However,…

Ice Breaker Festival kicks off Jan. 31

Ice Breaker Festival kicks off Jan. 31

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20253 min read

By James Windell The weather may be frigid, but the city of South Haven will heat up with it’s annual Ice Breaker Festival.Taking over downtown South Haven from Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 2, Ice Breaker will feature a…

Meet Kevin Swope: new South Haven Police Chief

Meet Kevin Swope: new South Haven Police Chief

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20256 min read

By James Windell When Kevin Swope was 15, he became a Police Explorer.“This was a program like Boy Scouts,” Swope, the South Haven Police Chief, said in a recent interview. “That was in Garden City and after that I kept…

Man convicted for attempt to steal $700k from Four Winds

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

HARTFORD – A federal jury has convicted a Chicago man for his role in a scheme to steal $700,000 from a Hartford casino.The Office of the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Michigan announced Friday, Jan 14 that Jesus…

Lawton Village Council considers public safety millage

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20254 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – A public safety millage is still under consideration by the Lawton Village Council. At the village council’s Tuesday, Jan. 14, meeting a village resident asked about the public safety millage formula.During Citizens’ Comments, Village…

Officers elected for Paw Paw Board of Ed

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20251 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – During the annual Paw Paw Board of Education organizational business meet-ing, held Jan. 13, board officers elected for 2025 include: President – Brent McNitt; Vice President – Dale Pease; and Secretary – Ray…

Paw Paw boys defeat Edwardsburg

Editorial StaffJan 22, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw’s boys basketball team defeated Edwardsburg 57-52 on Jan. 15.Paw Paw had quarter leads of 14-11 after the first quarter and 39-38 after the third. The Red Wolves trailed 29-23 at halftime.For Paw…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20255 min read

According to physicians, therapists, pollsters and others, we are sadder than in the past. We smile less and feel gloomier, leaving many without much hope or enthusiasm for the future.In fact, about one in four, or some two billion people,…

Mike’s Musings: Is insurance claim worth chopping your feet off?

Mike’s Musings: Is insurance claim worth chopping your feet off?

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20253 min read

In the midst of all the drama many of us experience I thought I’d write about an unusual story, actually better words would be strange and bizarre, that comes from the Ozarks in Missouri.Here’s the setup:A man wanted to cash…

South Haven cheerleader set for strong season

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — Jada A. Lewis-Suggs is a key member of South Haven’s competitive cheer team this season.“We have performed really well together and connect really good,” Lewis-Suggs said. “I would say I performed well so early…

South Haven Board of Education selects new officers

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By James Windell With the resignation of long-time School Board President Laura Bos, the South Haven Board of Education selected Shawn Olney as their new President.Other officers chosen by the Board were Claire Bodtke as Vice-President, Doug Ransom as Treasurer…

Lakefront Roofing to buy property from the City

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By James Windell The South Haven City Council on January 6, 2025 approved Resolution 2025-04 authorizing a purchase development agreement with Lakefront Roofing, LLC.Lakefront Roofing company, now located in Covert, will buy three acres of land from the city in…

Sheriff’s Office investigates series of scams

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that a series of scams are still being at-tempted and occurring in Van Buren County. On Friday, Jan. 10, a victim was contacted at approx-imately 1:48 p.m. by an…

Sheriff’s Office investigates series of scams

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that a series of scams are still being at-tempted and occurring in Van Buren County. On Friday, Jan. 10, a victim was contacted at approximately 1:48 p.m. by an…

Senate Republican Leader Nesbitt launches campaign for governor

Senate Republican Leader Nesbitt launches campaign for governor

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township announced he is running to become Michigan’s 50th governor, becoming the first announced Republican candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial election.Nesbitt grew up on a sixth-generation family farm and earned…