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

Obituary: Catherine Ruth Harrell

Obituary: Catherine Ruth Harrell

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

            Catherine Ruth Harrell, 69, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at her home in Kalamazoo. She was born Feb. 9, 1955, in Paw Paw, the daughter of Stephen Diljak and Norma (Brown) Diljak. As the oldest…

Obituary: Lena Ann Veldt

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Lena Ann Veldt passed away on September 18, 2023 in Grand Rapids after a brief illness. Lena was born in Paw Paw Hospital on June 25, 1954 to Harm and Virgina (Schaefer) Veldt. As a child, Lena was raised on…

Obituary: Paul Siskaninetz

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Paul Siskaninetz, 91, of Lawton, passed away Monday, February 5, 2024 at Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo. Paul was born March 14, 1932 in Decatur, MI to John and Mary (Forzan) Siskaninetz. Paul attended a two-room school house in East Decatur…

Obituary: Ruth Ann Armentrout

Obituary: Ruth Ann Armentrout

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

Ruth Ann Armentrout, age 64, quietly went home to be with her Lord on May 1, 2024 surrounded by loved ones. Born on April 21,1960 in Clare, MI to Donald and Jean Armentrout, Ruth grew up living and working on…

Obituary: Vivian Caroline Polomcak

Obituary: Vivian Caroline Polomcak

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

Vivian Caroline Polomcak, known to most as “Beebee”, from Decatur, MI, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 after a short fight with breast cancer; just shy of her 92nd birthday. She was born to Theodore Stanek and Helen Stanek (Godisak)…

Area Towns to Hold Memorial Day Parades

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

GOBLES – Gobles will hold a Memorial Day Parade at 9 a.m., Monday, May 27, that will travel down State Street (M-40). Lineup will begin at the Gobles High School parking lot. LAWRENCE – Lawrence will hold a Memorial Day…

Paw Paw to hold Memorial Day Parade on May 27

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

PAW PAW – Paw Paw’s 103rd annual Memorial Day services will be held Monday, May 27, with the annual parade starting at 10 a.m. from the Bistro 120 parking lot, via Michigan Avenue to the Veterans Memorial Park for services.…

Arlington Township Board Approves two marijuana related resolutions

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20243 min read

ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP – The Arlington Township Board, Wednesday, May 15, approved two marijuana-related resolutions.The first resolution reduced the price of a marijuana license application from $5,000 to $2,500, while the second resolution deals with fines and costs for violations.Contacted after…

Five named Lawrence honor students

Five named Lawrence honor students

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

This year’s Lawrence High School Class of 2024 Honor Students include, from left, Boston Litchfield, Ashley Reed, Benjamin McCaw, and Alexander Payment. Missing from photo is Cansyn Haislip.Photo courtesy /Lawrence Public Schools

Mattawan Schools announces partnership to begin $110 million construction campaign

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20242 min read

MATTAWAN – Mattawan Consolidated School District has announced its partnership with The Veridus Group, an owner’s representative firm based in Indiana and Michigan, to spearhead its $110 million bond proposal construction campaign. Following a request for proposal process and careful…

PP Library celebrates Police Week

PP Library celebrates Police Week

Editorial StaffMay 22, 20241 min read

The Paw Paw District Library’s Color Me Happy group recently celebrated police week by coloring vibrant pictures with police themes. Paw Paw Police Department Lieutenant Sam Carlsen stopped by the library to accept the many pictures. The Color Me Happy…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20247 min read

    If you don’t mind me saying so, I think the world is getting a bit too spooky.  This war in Israel has been going on for months and tempers are getting short about the number of civilian casualties – and rightfully…

Mike’s Musings: Homeless woman found in sign, RFK’s brain eaten by worm

Mike’s Musings: Homeless woman found in sign, RFK’s brain eaten by worm

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20243 min read

I thought I’d take time out from writing about politics to offer a few weird, or absurd items that appeared in the news last week. It seems some news stories are getting weirder and weirder as weeks and months go…

Paw Paw baseball splits with Otsego

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent
PAW PAW – Paw Paw played a varsity baseball doubleheader Wednesday at home against Otsego and came away with a split.In game 1 the Red Wolves scored five runs in the first and held on for a 10-8…

Obituary: Margaret “Peg” A. Woods

Obituary: Margaret “Peg” A. Woods

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20242 min read

Margaret “Peg” A. Woods, 72, of Paw Paw, gracefully departed this world surrounded by the love of her family on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Rose Arbor, Kalamazoo. Born on Sept. 30, 1951, in Akron, Ohio, Peg was the cherished…

Obituary: Louise Lynnea Nelson

Obituary: Louise Lynnea Nelson

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20243 min read

Louise Lynnea Nelson, age 80, of Gobles MI, died on Monday, May 6, 2024, at home under hospice care and in the presence of her family. Louise was born in St. Joseph, MI, on August 27, 1943, to Arthur C.…

County Sergeant credited with saving man from burning residence

County Sergeant credited with saving man from burning residence

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20242 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer ANTWERP TWP. – A Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office sergeant is being credited with saving the life of a man who was unable to get himself off his burning bed early Tuesday morning May 7, according…

Modified “live hand grenade” found in Columbia Township

Modified “live hand grenade” found in Columbia Township

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20241 min read

COLUMBIA TWP. – On Friday, May 10, Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 50000 block of County Road 388 in Columbia Township at approximately 6:34 p.m. for a report…

Mattawan school voters approve two bond issues

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20244 min read

MATTAWAN – Voters in the Mattawan Consolidated School District said “yes” to two bond proposals, resulting in a total investment of $110 million toward the betterment of the district’s students and community. “This momentous achievement marks a significant milestone in…

Van Buren District Library millage proposal passes

Editorial StaffMay 15, 20242 min read

DECATUR – On May 7, Van Buren County residents showed their support for the Van Buren District Library by voting to approve a millage increase. This decision will provide vital funding for library services.Dan Hutchins, Van Buren District Library director,…