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

Upgrades made at Paw Paw Waste and Recycling Center

Upgrades made at Paw Paw Waste and Recycling Center

Editorial StaffMay 14, 20253 min read

PAW PAW – Paw Paw Township, along with the Van Buren Conservation District (VBCD) made some big changes with upgrades over the last year at the Paw Paw Waste and Recycling Center, 38016 W. Red Arrow Highway, Paw Paw.Paw Paw…

Paz is Mattawan’s first ever to win award

Paz is Mattawan’s first ever to win award

Editorial StaffMay 14, 20251 min read

Alejandra Tienda Paz, a senior at Mattawan High School, became the district’s first ever recipient of the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy. She earned the prestigious recognition for her proficiency in both English and Spanish and will receive a special seal…

Paw Paw High School mural sparks mental health conversations

Paw Paw High School mural sparks mental health conversations

Editorial StaffMay 14, 20252 min read

PAW PAW – At Paw Paw High School, Art Teacher Sarah Bentley and English Teacher Sean Kubik, along with their students, are collaborating with visiting artist, Marlo Broughton, to create an artistic outdoor mural that celebrates the community and encourages…

Gold Star Mothers to host military suicide awareness walk-a-thon

Editorial StaffMay 14, 20252 min read

PAW PAW – American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. (AGSM) will host its third Military Suicide Awareness Walk-A-Thon, Sunday, May 18. Registration begins at noon with the walk at 1 p.m. The walk starts and ends in the Maple City Veterans…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20256 min read

   Growing up, each year our family went to the “Great Minnesota Get Together,” better known as the State Fair.  We toured the buildings, looked at the agriculture displays and livestock, and usually ate lunch at the Hamline United Methodist…

Mike’s Musings: Absent-minded journalist strikes again

Mike’s Musings: Absent-minded journalist strikes again

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20253 min read

Some people call me absent-minded, others call me addle-headed. Me, I just blame it on being left-handed.Last week, I left my briefcase in a rental car. Its contents were my valuable laptop, scads of paperwork and files and some cash.Let…

South Haven tennis falls

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrerspondent South Haven fell to Kalamazoo Christian 8-0 in girls tennis last week. Singles:No. 1 – Kennedy Price, Kalamazoo Christian def. Olivia Emenhiser, South Haven, 6-0 , 6-0No. 2 – Katie Meints, Kalamazoo Christian def. Harley Nail, South…

Grand Opening held for Decatur Area Waste and Recycling Center

Grand Opening held for Decatur Area Waste and Recycling Center

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20253 min read

The Van Buren Conservation District (VBCD), along with its partners at Hamilton and Decatur townships, and the Village of Decatur jointly announced that on Sat-urday April 26, the Decatur Area Waste and Recycling Center, 300 West Beers St., Decatur, officially…

Lawrence Senior High Band takes straight 1s in state competition

Lawrence Senior High Band takes straight 1s in state competition

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20251 min read

Lawrence Senior High Band takes straight 1s in state competition

Paw Paw names Class of 2025 Academic Elite

Paw Paw names Class of 2025 Academic Elite

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20251 min read

Members of Paw Paw High School’s Class of 2025 Academic Elite include in the back row, from left, Levi Vestrand, Phillip Staffen, Kaetlyn Muir, Darrin Strey, Arin Rickli, Barron Marinich, and Collin Campbell; in the middle row, from left, Taya…

Gronda named MSBOA District 6 Band Teacher of the Year

Gronda named MSBOA District 6 Band Teacher of the Year

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20251 min read

Paw Paw High School Band Director Amy Gronda was recently named MSBOA District 6 Band Teacher of the Year for 2024/2025. “A well-deserved award and an amazing way to end a distinguished career in Paw Paw. Thank you for creating…

National Day of Prayer event held in Paw Paw

National Day of Prayer event held in Paw Paw

Editorial StaffMay 7, 20251 min read

The greater Paw Paw area’s National Day of Prayer was held Thursday, May 1, at noon at St. Mary Catholic Church, Paw Paw. The theme for the 2025 National Day of Prayer, was “Pour Out to the God of Hope…

South Haven Area Emergency Services honors members

South Haven Area Emergency Services honors members

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20253 min read

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

South Haven police chief quits after he failed to resign previous job

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20254 min read

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

Ship grounded due to low river / lake level

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20251 min read

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

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20252 min read

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

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20253 min read

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

Seventy walk to overcome poverty

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20251 min read

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

Paw Paw winery demolishes building for expanded parking

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20251 min read

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

Volunteers honored for longtime service

Editorial StaffApr 30, 20251 min read

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,…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239