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

Life as Performance art

Life as Performance art

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20257 min read

    On the whole, as things go, this past week’s surprise natural gas outage, wasn’t really all that bad.  It could have been worse; a lot worse.  Fortunately, the disruption came when the weather was moderate, so we did not…

Mike’s Musings: Quicksand drama turns in to romantic relationship

Mike’s Musings: Quicksand drama turns in to romantic relationship

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20253 min read

I was flipping channels the other night when a question was asked. What did you fear most as a kid? There were a variety of answers but one of the answers was quicksand.I immediately concurred. Quicksand was fear of mine…

Ice cream shop reopens under new ownership

Ice cream shop reopens under new ownership

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20252 min read

By James Windell If you’ve lamented the closing of Sherman’s Dairy Bar, a South Haven summer ice cream shop for the past 66 years, take heart.Sherman’s Dairy Bar, which closed last October, is now reopened under a new owner as…

SHARA surprised Council delayed Recreation Director approval

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20253 min read

By James Windell Based on the interest in the proposed Community Recreation Director agreement, which the South Haven City council did not approve on April 7, it was not surprising that the topic would come up at the South Haven…

City Council holds capital improvements workshop

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20253 min read

By James Windell In a special workshop meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, the South Haven City Council received a capital improvement plan.Presenting a 90-minute slide presentation on capital improvement for the years 2026 to 2032 was Department of Public…

Harbors may be affected by EGLE mandate

Harbors may be affected by EGLE mandate

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20254 min read

By James Windell Earlier this month Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga released a statement regarding the Whitmer Administration’s “ill-defined” EGLE requirements for PFAS testing as a condition for harbor dredging.EGLE is the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. It…

County man wins $1 million playing Michigan Lottery’s Cashword

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20252 min read

A lucky mistake led to a big payday and a treasure hunt for a Van Buren County man who won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s Major Cashword instant game.“I play Cashword tickets occasionally, but purchasing this ticket was a…

Hartford teenagers honored by Sheriff for putting out fire

Hartford teenagers honored by Sheriff for putting out fire

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20252 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com HARTFORD – Two Hartford teenagers, students at Hartford High School, were recently honored by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office for their quick actions in putting out a construction trailer fire.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott…

Protest raises $863 for Eleanor’s Food Pantry

Protest raises $863 for Eleanor’s Food Pantry

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20252 min read

PAW PAW – More than 150 people demonstrated in Paw Paw as part of the Take America Back protests held around the country on Saturday, April 19. The protests are in opposition to the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE.Protest…

Paw Paw softball sweeps Three Rivers

Editorial StaffApr 23, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw is 8-1 in girls softball after sweeping Three Rivers 13-9 and 11-9 on April 18.Paw Paw had 18 hits in the first game. Elizabeth Vanderburg had a home run. Bella Clemons was…

Paw Paw baseball is now 4-4

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20252 min read

By John Raffel Varsity baseball traveled to Three Rivers Friday to open conference play. The DH ended in a split for two tightly contested games. In Game No. 1 the Red Wolves outhit the Wildcats but just couldn’t get the…

Mike’s Musings: Give tariffs a chance, they may work

Mike’s Musings: Give tariffs a chance, they may work

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20253 min read

Let’s give the tariffs time to work. If they don’t work I will be the first to admit I was wrong. President Trump seems to be backing off his hardline positions with a 90-day reprieve for most, and taking tariffs…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20255 min read

Sometimes we learn more about ourselves and our fu-ture by looking back in histo-ry.Today, we go back about a century to the Roaring ‘20s. Babe Ruth is slamming home runs, the Four Horse-men are playing for Knute Rockne at Notre…

South Haven fails to act on lifeguard recommendations

South Haven fails to act on lifeguard recommendations

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20254 min read

By James Windell When TV camera crews showed up at the South Haven City Council meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025, it was clear that there was a hot-button issue on the agenda. But it was not short-term rentals this…

South Haven couple will cycle in all 50 states

South Haven couple will cycle in all 50 states

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20254 min read

By James Windell When Deanne and Roger Fridley began dating, Roger bought a bicycle because Deanne was an avid cyclist. Not only did he take up the sport, but now the couple are one state away from accomplishing a cycling…

City Council tables community recreation director agreement

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20254 min read

By James Windell When South Haven resident Jack Sitzer addressed the South Haven City Council on Monday, April 7, 2025, he stated he was opposed to the council approving an agreement that would result in a new position of Community…

Stermer found guilty of killing husband a second time

Stermer found guilty of killing husband a second time

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20252 min read

A woman accused of killing her husband by setting him on fire and then running him over has been found guilty by a jury in a retrial.Linda Stermer has been found guilty of two counts of murder, including first-degree murder.…

53 inducted into PPHS National Honor Society

53 inducted into PPHS National Honor Society

Editorial StaffApr 16, 20251 min read

A total of 53 new members were recently inducted into Paw Paw High School National Honor Society. They include: Jacob Ameling, Victor Armijo, Chase Boff, Liliana Brausch, Bella Clemons, Kami Crandall, Kassidy Derhammer, Emma Deuel, Gracie Eagle, Anderson Farnquist, Eric…