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

Mike’s Musings: My Father, MY Hero

Mike’s Musings: My Father, MY Hero

Editorial StaffJun 12, 20243 min read

(I wrote this a year ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me) This week I give pause to reflect on my…

Life as performance Art

Life as performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 12, 20246 min read

    About a week ago, on a hot and humid afternoon, I was doing some work on the lawn and gardens. I was close to the sidewalk when a couple of visitors to town paused and commented on the amount of…

Paw Paw Alumni issued 9 scholarships worth $27k

Paw Paw Alumni issued 9 scholarships worth $27k

Editorial StaffJun 12, 20241 min read

The 2024 Paw Paw Alumni Scholarship winners this year are: From left to right: William Webster $6,000 PPAC Platinum Scholarship, Ian McDonald $5,000 PPAC Gold Scholarship, Addison Roy $3,000 PPAC Silver Scholarship, Emma Kenyon $2,000 PPAC Bronze Scholarship, Chloe Kooi…

County Museum to hold grand reopening, Sunday, June 23

County Museum to hold grand reopening, Sunday, June 23

Editorial StaffJun 12, 20243 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer HARTFORD – Following two years of repairs to the roof and structure of the Van Buren County Historical Museum in June of 2022, following a high wind and rainstorm that damaged the roof, the museum will…

Area News Briefs

Area News Briefs

Editorial StaffJun 12, 20243 min read

Watervliet man arrested following high-speed chaseBy Paul GarrodStaff Writer BANGOR TOWNSHIP – A 43-year-old Watervliet man faces several charges after he led authorities on a high-speed chase, Thursday afternoon, June 6, through two townships in a stolen vehicle, according to…

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo On June 2, Ratcliffe Field was filled with families, friends and a flurry of caps and gowns. Around 100 degrees were set to be conferred that afternoon, and as the stands filled up, the graduates took their…

South Haven top graduates look to the future

South Haven top graduates look to the future

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo With their time in school behind them, the top students in South Haven High School’s graduating class are excited for the new opportunities their futures will bring.Topping the class this year were Kayley Gorham and Kelsey Hodgman,…

City Council furthers zoning ordinance, establishes moratorium

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo At the first South Haven City Council meeting of June, the council handled a number of matters, new and old. They furthered the zoning ordinance regarding short-term rentals, pushing it along to the city’s Planning Commission, in…

Mattawan baseball team falls in district

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MATTAWAN – A fine baseball season ended for Mattawan on Saturday June 1 with a 4-3 loss to Portage Central.Mattawan ended its regular season on May 28 with a 6-4 win over Grandville. Mattawan softballMattawan’s softball season…

Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator

Mike’s Musings: No fun being trapped in an elevator

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

Have you ever been trapped in an elevator?Until last week, I could unequivocally say “no.” Now having been around for a while, I have ridden up and down on my share of elevators and never gave it a second thought…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20247 min read

      For the past few summers, a small group of fellow journalists, all writers for the British magazine The Chap,  have banded together, along with some other friends, wives and sweet-hearts for their Annual Grand Flaneur. Last year there were some sixty “Chaps”…

Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped

Mike’s Musings: Ukraine-Russia war must be stopped

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20243 min read

Here I go again. One of my favorite rants is “Why do we send so much money and weapons to Ukraine to further a war they will never win?As a country we are nearly $34 trillion in debt and have…

Paw Paw baseball sweeps South Haven

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – The Paw Paw baseball team on May 21 swept a doubleheader from South Haven on senior night. Pitching from Dylan Abnet and Jake Hindenach were dominant.In game No. 1 the Red Wolves won 7-3.…

Obituary: Russell George Heinzen

Obituary: Russell George Heinzen

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

Russell George Heinzen, 85, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully Friday, May 10, 2024, at Rose Arbor, Kalamazoo. Cremation has taken place. He was born July 8, 1938, in Maple Plain, Minnesota, the son of Harvey Heinzen and Florence (Japps)…

Cities, villages honor war dead on Memorial Day

Cities, villages honor war dead on Memorial Day

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20242 min read

The 104th annual Paw Paw Memorial Day Program which followed the Memorial Day Parade, was held Monday, May 27, at Maple City Veterans’ Park. Despite a rain mist in the air and temperatures in the upper 50s, the event was…

Mike’s Musings: The school end is here, thoughts for our graduates

Mike’s Musings: The school end is here, thoughts for our graduates

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Our newspapers, for the most part, are filled with photos of high school graduates and some college graduates. It is indeed a milestone to graduate, and it will be a feat you, your parents and grandparents will remember for years…

Paw Paw baseball team Improves record to 18-11-1

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – The Paw Paw varsity baseball traveled to Niles on Wednesday, May 15, for a conference twinbill and suffered two losses.In the opener against Niles, the Red Wolves scored in the sixth to take a…

Obituary: Ronald Leroy Nagy

Obituary: Ronald Leroy Nagy

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Ronald Leroy Nagy, of Punta Gorda, FL, passed away after a short illness, July 6, 2023, at Shore Point Health Center, Punta Gorda, FL.  Ronald was born July 22, 1937, in Elkhart, Indiana. He was the second of three boys…

Obituary: Terry L. Wolownik

Obituary: Terry L. Wolownik

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20244 min read

Terry L. Wolonik,77, passed away May 3, 2024, peacefully at home, surrounded by his beloved wife and daughters in Queen Creek, Arizona.  Terry was preceded in death by his late parents Charlie and June McCauslin, Henrietta (Nanny) Weidner and sister,…

Obituary: Shirley Elsie Mae Figg

Obituary: Shirley Elsie Mae Figg

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Shirley Elsie Mae Figg, 93, of Paw Paw, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. She was born May 9, 1931, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Robert W. Larson and Nina Bell (Cuddeback) Larson. Shirley…