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

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

Editorial Staff May 14, 2025 2 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 Staff May 7, 2025 6 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 Staff May 7, 2025 3 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 Staff May 7, 2025 1 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 Staff May 7, 2025 3 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 Staff May 7, 2025 1 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 Staff May 7, 2025 1 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 Staff May 7, 2025 1 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 Staff May 7, 2025 1 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 4 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 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 Staff Apr 30, 2025 1 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,…

Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event

Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – Destination Paw Paw, a division of the Van Buren County CVB, gathered community members and partners at St. Julian Winery, here, on April 24 to celebrate the early successes of its newly launched brand. Destination Paw Paw officially…

Gobles boys have big day in Fennville

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — On April 23 the Gobblers Tigers boys track team traveled to Fennville to compete against Coloma and Fennville in this week’s double dual.The Tigers came away with some outstanding performances and 2 more team wins…

Mike’s Musings: Number of college administrators alarming

Mike’s Musings: Number of college administrators alarming

Editorial Staff Apr 30, 2025 3 min read

Many of you have read my rants concerning higher education. I believe the cost is outrageous and it certainly far outweighs the benefit most students receive.One of the reasons costs have risen extensively over the past decade is that universities…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.