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

Colleges should focus on more practical, less theory

Colleges should focus on more practical, less theory

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20223 min read

By Mike WilcoxPublisherI read a report a few days ago that lamented the decline in college enrollment in the state of Michigan, and the United States for that matter.Here, Central Michigan University was down nearly 50 percent over the past…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20225 min read

By G. Corwin StoppelRobert “Bob” Ingersoll died just before the 20th century started and his name soon slipped into obscurity. Like his father, Congregationalist Rev. Robert Ingersoll, he was a target and magnet because of his outspoken and frequently unpopular…

Cub Scout donates bench to PP Library

Cub Scout donates bench to PP Library

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20221 min read

Nathaniel Seibert, a member of Paw Paw Cub Scout Pack 169, center, is shown with a cedar wood bench that he constructed and donated to the Paw Paw District Library. Seibert is shown with his parents, Dan Seibert, far right…

Lawton business damaged significantly by fire

Lawton business damaged significantly by fire

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20221 min read

The Lawton Fire Department responded to an early Saturday morning structure fire at Eriksen’s Garage, 828 N. Main St., an auto repair business. The Paw Paw Fire Department assisted Lawton in battling the fully involved blaze, reported at approximately 8…

Rush receives “Citizens Lifesaving Award”

Rush receives “Citizens Lifesaving Award”

Editorial StaffApr 13, 20221 min read

Members of the Paw Paw Police Department, shown with Rush, secondfrom right, include, from left, Chief Eric Marshall, Officer Matt Johnson, and at far right,Lt. Eric Rottman. The Paw Paw Police Department recently recognized Corey Rush with a Citizen Life…

Obituary: Primo Alberto Flores Jr.

Obituary: Primo Alberto Flores Jr.

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20221 min read

Primo Alberto Flores, Jr., 60, of Paw Paw, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2022, at his home in Paw Paw. He was born April 30, 1961, in Paw Paw, the son of the late Primo Flores and Maria E. (Garcia)…

Obituary: Suzanne (Ryan) French

Obituary: Suzanne (Ryan) French

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20222 min read

Suzanne (Ryan) French completed her earthly journey, March 31, 2022. Born Aug. 11, 1935, the daughter of the late Frank and Irene (Calkins) Ryan.Suzanne was also preceded in death by a half-brother, Paul; her best friend and husband of 49…

Obituary: Betty A. Austin

Obituary: Betty A. Austin

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20225 min read

Betty A. Austin, 84, of Lawrence, also of Paw Paw from 1961 to 1995, passed away Thursday evening March 24, 2022, at White Oaks Retirement Residence, Lawton, with family at her bedside following a 20-plus years’ battle with Alzheimer’s. Betty…

Small retires after 33 years at DPW

Small retires after 33 years at DPW

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20221 min read

A retirement party was held at the Carnegie Center for John Small, Village of Paw Paw Director of Public Works, who retired Thursday, March 31. Small served 33 years with the village. His retirement was short-lived as he began new…

Van Buren begins first steps in broadband expansion

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20223 min read

PAW PAW, Mich.- Efforts to map broadband availability in Van Buren County at the parcel level are slated to begin April 4; this effort is the culmination of many months of work and an essential first step in ensuring broadband…

Mike’s Musings: U.S. Congress needs term limits

Mike’s Musings: U.S. Congress needs term limits

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20223 min read

By Mike WilcoxPublisherI’ve been a proponent of term limits for a long time. I believe at too many federal level lawmakers make politics a lifelong career, which was not the intention of our Founding Fathers.Don Young, Alaska’s congressman for 50…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 6, 20224 min read

By G.C. StoppelIf your vacation plans this year include Washington, D.C., be careful. Folks at the National Archives Museum are making sure you will not be traumatized, outraged or otherwise disgruntled by displays of historic documents.Next to an original copy…

Bangor names Weber new police chief

Bangor names Weber new police chief

Editorial StaffMar 30, 20222 min read

The City of Bangor has appointed a local police officer to serve as the new Chief of Police. Justin Weber has been appointed to Chief of Police for the Bangor Police Department and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the…

County Commissioners approve purchase of two properties

County Commissioners approve purchase of two properties

Editorial StaffMar 30, 20225 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 22, approved the purchase of two properties located on Kalamazoo Street, Paw Paw.As part of the county’s long term facility plan, commissioners allowed county administration to…

Paw Paw, Mattawan robotics teams take honors

Paw Paw, Mattawan robotics teams take honors

Editorial StaffMar 30, 20222 min read

2PawR (Robotics) FRC Team 5462 took home the Team Spirit Award Sunday afternoon following a two-day competition at Saline High School, while the Mattawan WiredCats, competing at Grand Valley State University, received the Gracious Professionalism Award. Two area high school…

Mike’s Musings: Michigan’s beauties evident during tour

Mike’s Musings: Michigan’s beauties evident during tour

Editorial StaffMar 30, 20224 min read

Michigan really is a winter wonderland. I came to that conclusion after my girlfriend and I took a state mini-tour two weekends ago.It began and ended at Metro Airport, but the hundreds of miles we traveled in between providing breathtaking…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffMar 30, 20225 min read

By G.C. StoppelMy parents had a “kitchen garden” where we grew fruits and vegetables. We ate some of the bounty in a style later called “farm to table.” Some we gave away to people who didn’t have gardens. Everything else…

Obituary-Nellie “Joyce” Sturrus Webb

Obituary-Nellie “Joyce” Sturrus Webb

Editorial StaffMar 23, 20223 min read

Aug. 8, 1938 – March 17, 2022Nellie “Joyce” Sturrus Webb, of Kalamazoo, was born Aug. 8, 1938, the youngest of four children, to Catherine (DeWaal) and Marinus Sturrus in Grand Rapids, MI.Not one to complain, Joyce faced physical challenges that…

Obituary-Ellen Marie Deal

Obituary-Ellen Marie Deal

Editorial StaffMar 23, 20221 min read

Ellen Marie Deal, 80, of Paw Paw, died Thursday, March 17, 2022, at White Oaks Assisted Living, Lawton. She was born Sept. 2, 1941, in Allegan, the daughter of Harry and Virginia (Weston) Stuart.On June 19, 1966, she married Harvey…

Hartford votes to change mascot from Indians to Huskies

Editorial StaffMar 23, 20221 min read

The Hartford Public Schools Board of Education voted on Monday night to adopt “Huskies” as their new mascot.The move comes after the board voted to drop the “Indians” nickname at the request of the Pokagon Tribe in nearby Dowagiac. A…