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

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…

Sheriff’s Office investigates contractor fraud

Sheriff’s Office investigates contractor fraud

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

An area builder is facing criminal charges following an investigation by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office. Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott said Gordon Leighton, 58, of the Lawton area, faces one count of contractor – fraud, a felony,…

Paw Paw Public School receives MEC grants

Paw Paw Public School receives MEC grants

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20252 min read

Officials from Midwest Energy & Communications, (MEC) Cassopolis, visited Paw Paw Later Elementary and Paw Paw Middle School on Thursday, Jan. 9, to present surprise grant award checks to Paw Paw Middle School teacher Kaylah Laurian and Paw Paw Public…

PPPS notified of cybersecurity incident involving third party vendor

Editorial StaffJan 15, 20251 min read

Paw Paw Public Schools issued a statement about a recent unauthorized ac-cess of information that occurred involving PowerSchool, the district’s third-party student information system.Paw Paw Public Schools Superintendent Jeremy Davison said, “We were recently informed that an incident took place…

Mike’s Musings: Congress should not ban TikTok

Mike’s Musings: Congress should not ban TikTok

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20253 min read

There has been a new push in Congress to out right ban or heavily regulate TikTok. I’m neither a user nor am I fan of social media in general. However, to ban or heavily regulate the most popular social media…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20255 min read

What was once known as suicide has been renamed by some “Assisted dying.” Both terms make me uncomfortable.Western culture has long abhorred suicide. The ancient Romans considered it a serious offense against the person, their family and the empire. If…

Almena Twp house fire contained by multiple departments

Almena Twp house fire contained by multiple departments

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20251 min read

On Dec. 30, shortly before noon, the Paw Paw Fire Department responded to a structure fire in Almena Township on County Road 653. Paw Paw Fire Chief Kyle Richardson said the fire began in the attached garage, then quickly began…

Mishap causes New Year’s ball drop to occur two hours early

Mishap causes New Year’s ball drop to occur two hours early

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20251 min read

By Tom Renner Figuratively speaking, the new year arrived two hours early in South Haven last Tuesday night.A South Haven tradition in recent years has been that at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1,000 beach balls that…

Area village and cities have experienced devastating fires only to rise again

Area village and cities have experienced devastating fires only to rise again

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20255 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com Several towns in The Courier-Leader coverage area have experienced downtown fires of one type or another during the past nearly 170 years. The fires destroyed or badly damaged businesses, but following the devastation, the communities rallied,…

City Council approves Overton Development

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20252 min read

By James Windell The South Haven City Council approved a proposal for redevelopment of the Overton Property at 229 Elkenburg Street, South Haven.Although plans for developing the property have been mired in controversy because of contamination, the City Council on…

Family takes a frigid dip for Recovery Institute

Family takes a frigid dip for Recovery Institute

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20252 min read

By Tom Renner There’s nothing more refreshing than taking a dip in Lake Michigan.But in January? When the water temp is 41 degrees and the air 23?For Patrick Kaufmann and his three daughters it was well worth it as they…

Paw Paw wrestlers beat Berrien Springs

Editorial StaffJan 8, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw’s wrestling team defeated Berrien Springs 63-16 in the Comstock team tournament on Jan. 4.For Paw Paw:Mason Voloenski (106) won by forfeit; Paw Paw (113) forfeited to Berrien Springs; Daniel Hadley (120) pinned…