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

Obituary: Patricia Iris (Bauer) Terry

Obituary: Patricia Iris (Bauer) Terry

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20242 min read

Patricia Iris (Bauer) Terry, 68, of Lawton, passed away Monday, July 1, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. She was born May 23, 1956, in Paw Paw, Michigan, the daughter of Walter Bauer and Maxine (Abbott) Bauer. Patty was a…

Obituary: David Paul DeCou

Obituary: David Paul DeCou

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20243 min read

David Paul DeCou, of Paw Paw, Michigan, devout husband, father, educator, and coach, passed away peacefully at his home, July 2, 2024.  Born on Dec. 29, 1947, to Glen and Leota DeCou in Saginaw, MI, David grew up in Vassar,…

Mike’s Musings: STR’s Are They good or bad?

Mike’s Musings: STR’s Are They good or bad?

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20243 min read

STR’s, or in layman’s terms, Short Term Rentals are a hot topic all over the United States, and even abroad, but nowhere are they a heated topic of discussion than in resort communities.In the areas, some of my newspapers cover,…

Mattawan athlete to play college golf

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MATTAWAN – Matt Novak enjoyed his senior golf season for Mattawan High School.“It went great,” he said. “It was a good season, a fun golf season. Fortunately the team didn’t qualify for state but it was fun.…

Pub demolished to make way for auto parts store

Pub demolished to make way for auto parts store

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20241 min read

Demolition work on the former Gallagher’s Eatery and Pub, 715 S. Kalamazoo St., began last week. The longtime vacant building has been sold and an auto parts store is expected to be constructed on the site.Courier-Leader photos/Paul Garrod

Free grandstand with paid admission to be offered at 69th annual Youth Fair

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20243 min read

HARTFORD – A free grandstand with paid gate admission will be offered at the 69th annual Van Buren Youth Fair, which will get underway July 15-20, for its weeklong run.Nightly grandstand features include:Monday, July 15, 6 p.m. – Farm Stock…

Two Gobles area residents face charges, including criminal sexual conduct

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20242 min read

GOBLES – Two Gobles area residents face charges of criminal sexual conduct, child abuse, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, following their arrest June 29, according to a press release from the Van Buren County…

Carlin excels in track and wrestling for Gobles

Carlin excels in track and wrestling for Gobles

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20244 min read

Finn Carlin is a wrestler and football player at Gobles. By John RaffelCorrespondent Finn Carlin was among the four Gobles freshmen who placed at their sports respective state championships.The others were Libby Smith, Daisy Estrada, and Lauren Shaffer.Carlin placed a…

Obituary: Peggy “Peg” Nicholas

Obituary: Peggy “Peg” Nicholas

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20245 min read

Peggy “Peg” Nicholas, 87, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, June 26, 2024, with her son and daughter-in-law at her bedside following a courageous battle with cancer. Peggy was born in her family’s home on June 21, 1937, in…

Three fire departments fight Paw Paw Tuesday morning blaze

Three fire departments fight Paw Paw Tuesday morning blaze

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20241 min read

The Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire, Tuesday morning, July 2, at KPEP, 38266 West Red Arrow Highway, Paw Paw. Arriving at the scene at approximately 9 a.m., fire department members found heavy smoke coming from…

Man stabbed in alcohol-fueled fight

Man stabbed in alcohol-fueled fight

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20242 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer ALMENA TWP. – An alcohol-fueled fight between two men in Almena Township late Friday night, June 28, resulted in one man being stabbed and the other charged with assault with intent to commit murder, according to…

Five arrested in Sheriff’s Office “Clean Streets”

Five arrested in Sheriff’s Office “Clean Streets”

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20242 min read

Corya Underwood Dallas Watson Briana Mitchell Shaun Jackson Jerry Bronkhorst By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported the arrest of five individuals with outstanding felony warrants by detectives from the Van Buren County…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20247 min read

    Growing up, I had no need for an alarm clock ringing in my ears.  I was awakened by the hideous stench after The Olds plugged in the percolator for their first cups of coffee.  I don’t know the name…

Mike’s Musings: Assange finally freed, but more accountability needed

Mike’s Musings: Assange finally freed, but more accountability needed

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20243 min read

One could not escape all the clutter on the airwaves and internet concerning the debate between Biden and Trump this past week. The subject was pontificated on at length, everywhere. How badly did Biden, lose, everyone asked. Will he pull…

Paw Paw players stay active

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – It’s the middle of summer and typically high school sport teams stay active with open gyms, camps and many other activities.Paw Paw baseball coach Derek Vanderburg is coming off a very successful spring season…

Obituary: Gerald W Michels

Obituary: Gerald W Michels

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20241 min read

Gerald W Michels, the only child of Lester William and Sena Edith (McGrew) Michels, born September 6, 1942 passed into every lasting life on Monday June 17, 2024.As a member of the McGrew Family who still reside in the area,…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20244 min read

On late cold nights when I was growing up, I would listen to my father’s shortwave radio receiver.  I could not make sense of the amateurs sending Morse Code but delighted in finding an English-speaking commercial station. There were many, but the…

Van Buren County Poorhouse Museum reopens following June 2022 storm that damaged building

Van Buren County Poorhouse Museum reopens following June 2022 storm that damaged building

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20244 min read

Van Buren County Historical Society (VBCHS) President Sandra Merchant, right, is shown with Asher Avery, a VBCHS volunteer, as he prepares to cut the yellow ribbon in first photo, and then cuts it in second photo, marking the opening of…

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers misbehavior goes unpunished

Mike’s Musings: Lawmakers misbehavior goes unpunished

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20243 min read

Nobody knows who, nobody knows why, but $17 million of our money (taxpayers) has been paid out to federal lawmakers accused of sexual (as well as other types of discrimination) misdeeds from 1997 to 2017.Personally, I think this is despicable.…

Obituary: Norma Jean Whiteman

Editorial StaffJun 19, 20242 min read

Norma Jean Whiteman, 91, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully surrounded by family during the morning hours of June 3, 2024. She was born Sept. 20, 1932, the daughter of Sherman Austin and Lula (Knapp) Austin.Norma will be remembered for being…

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