St. Joseph County approves 2026 and 2027 budgets
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — St. Joseph County officially has new initial budgets for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.On Tuesday, the county Board of Commissioners approved the new budgets for the next two years by a 5-2 vote.…
Mike’s Musings: Thanksgiving us your time to express thanks
Thanksgiving has a way of arriving right when we need it most. After another year filled with the usual mix of noise—politics, inflation, crises abroad, and the ever-present rush of everyday life—this holiday stands as a rare invitation to stop,…
Life as Performance Art
Mother had a copy of a painting she kept in her Thanksgiving dinner file folder. Right after Halloween she took down our elementary school finger-painted masterpieces and used four magnets to hold the print on the refrigerator door. With it…
Huron Street reconstruction completed in South Haven
The reconstruction of Huron Street in downtown South Haven has been completed ahead of the winter months. The project between Broadway Avenue to Kalamazoo Street underwent a $1 million reconstruction that included resurfacing, handicap accessible sidewalk improvements, curb, gutter and…
Copping awarded state Lifetime Achievement Award
Governor Gretchen Whitmer honored South Haven’s Bob Copping by presenting him the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday night during the Governor’s Service Awards celebration in East Lansing. Family and friends joined in the celebration.Sponsored by the Michigan Community Service Commission, the…
Opposition grows to 120 Baseline manufactured housing
By James Windell If it wasn’t evident before, now there is no doubt about it. This was made clear at the last South Haven Planning Commission meeting. There is a groundswell of opposition to the proposed manufactured housing community at…
Rothner hopes to set record straight about 120 Baseline
By James Windell When Eric Rothner was just a child, his parents brought him to South Haven every summer.“As a boy, my brothers and I practically lived on the beach and along Lake Michigan,” Eric Rothner says. “We’d fish off…
New Lawrence Township Fire Chief named
William “Bill” Firestone was recently named the new Lawrence Township Fire Chief, following his selection by the Lawrence Township Board. Firestone will receive a base salary of $48,000 plus benefits for 32 hours. Department member James Fine will be paid…
Area Food Pantry receives $1,000 grant
The Gobles-Kendall Area Ministerial Association Food Pantry was a recipient of a $1,000 grant from the Ben Crooks Agency and the Agent Charitable Fund – Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. Shown in photo, at left, is Ben Crooks, and Sheila…
Paul DeYoung to be honored by Paw Paw DDA
PAW PAW – Van Buren County Register of Deeds Paul De Young has been announced by the Paw Paw Downtown Development Authority (DDA) as the inaugural recipient of the Community Ambassador Award. DeYoung will be honored Friday, Dec. 12, during…
Veterans Day services held in area towns
Despite snow and temperatures in the 20s, area towns held Veterans Day ceremonies on Nov. 11. At Paw Paw, the Paw Paw American Legion McGowan-Johnson Post 68, held a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. At Lawrence, the Lawrence High School…
Mattawan student dies from injuries after struck by vehicle
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PORTER TWP.- A 10-year-old Mattawan Consolidated School student died from injuries he received Thursday, Nov. 13, when he was struck by a vehicle near a school bus stop, according to a press release from the VanBuren…
Former South Haven volleyball standout has fond memories
By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — Mony Amar-Newton has special memories of the South Haven volleyball program which celebrated its 50th anniversary this fall.Amar-Newton started with the high school program in 1978 as a player. She graduated in 1981 and…
Life as Performance Art
For someone who is not a certified member of the Handyman’s Union and a complete all-thumbs fiasco in most do-it-yourself projects, I find myself having to make a stop at a hardware store a couple times a week. Especially in…
Lawton falls in district finals
By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWTON — Lawton’s football season came to an end in the second week off the playoffs with a 26-0 loss to Schoolcraft in Friday’s district title game.Lawton’s season ends at 7-4. Schoolcraft takes a 9-2 record into…
Mike’s Musings: The True Spirit of Christmas Lives in Helping Others
As the Christmas season approaches, the lights, music, and festive cheer remind us of joy, family, and tradition. But amid the celebration, it’s also a time to remember what this season truly represents — compassion, generosity, and community. For many…
Mayor Annie Brown re-elected as South Haven mayor
By James Windell South Haven Mayor Annie Brown presented a proclamation on Monday, November 3, 2025, proclaiming November as National Care at Home Month.Although November is officially recognized nationwide as National Care at Home Month, by observing the month on…
Ribbon cutting ceremony held for Riverwoods
By James Windell “It was December 4 two years ago when I made the initial request to the DNR leadership asking them about buying this property for a recreational park,” Scott Reinert said on Friday, November 7, 2025, at as…
Weather buoy returns to port
The Lake Michigan weather buoy that provides information to anglers and boaters off the shore of South Haven was returned to port for the winter months on Saturday.The buoy is maintained by LimnoTech of Ann Arbor in collaboration with the South Haven Steelheaders,…
Iconic Merson store succumbs to fire
By Gari Voss The call came to Gobles Pine Grove Fire Chief Brian Cronk at 5:58am that smoke was pouring from the northwest section of Merson Store at M-40 and 102nd Avenue. By the time Gobles Pine Grove and Allegan…
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