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

Hartford area woman in custody following fatal shooting

Editorial Staff Mar 26, 2025 1 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com HARTFORD – A 41-year-old Hartford area man is dead following an early Monday morning, March 24, shooting in Hartford, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott…

Second trial to begin in 2007 Lawrence murder case

Editorial Staff Mar 26, 2025 2 min read

A Lawrence woman convicted of murdering her husband will soon begin the process of having a second murder trial.On Tuesday a jury trial was set to commence years after the January 2007 murder case of Todd Stermer.According to investigators, Todd…

Three Gobles players receive honors

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES — Three Gobles players received all-conference honors this season.Picking up first-team honors were junior Jayden Otis who averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and Aden Newberry who was at 11 points and nine boards…

Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada

Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 3 min read

President Trump likes to say his favorite word is “tariff.” He hopes to use the word to force corporations to locate in the United States, instead of other countries where they have tax and trade advantages. More corporations mean more…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 6 min read

BY G.C. STOPPELFew hold party politics and politicians in high esteem. Campaigns grow longer and more expensive and polarization fiercer. Consensus and compromise are no longer goals; they are dirty words.The last presidential election was packed with negative ads and…

South Haven gets new water storage tank

South Haven gets new water storage tank

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 1 min read

South Haven’s new million gallon concrete water storage tank is rising out of the ground.When completed in 2026, it will replace a crumbling century–old tank located on Blue State Memorial Highway.The new tank is located near the City of South…

New Condos planned for downtown South Haven

New Condos planned for downtown South Haven

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Plans for three new condominiums in downtown South Haven are gaining momentum.A proposed project by local developers Locker & Locker Properties LLC to construct three condominiums on the upper floor of the building that houses The Shoe…

Finally, STR ordinance approved by City Council

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell The City of South Haven has its first revised Short-term Rental ordinance since 2018. The South Haven City Council approved a much-debated ordinance at its meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.But getting there wasn’t easy.In 2018, the…

BOC to seek $3 million grant for 9-1-1 center

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…

Stolen vehicle recovered, felon found in possession of firearms

Stolen vehicle recovered, felon found in possession of firearms

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW TWP. – A stolen vehicle was recovered, in addition to several guns and ammunition, while a felon was found to be in possession of firearms, following an incident that occurred Friday, March 14, in…

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

MATTAWAN – Monday, March 10, marked a historic milestone for Mattawan Consolidated Schools as the district broke ground on the first phase of a comprehensive, multi-year school construction project. This initiative follows the approval of a $110 million dollar school…

BOC hopes to get $3 million grant for dispatch/emergency center

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 6 min read

     A year ago, somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving, there was a slight crisis on the home front. It was during this time that Madame Dewey realized she was missing a stocking.  The default go-to response at other dire moments…

Mike’s Musings: Pat’s legacy will endure for many years

Mike’s Musings: Pat’s legacy will endure for many years

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 3 min read

I lost a good friend and co-worker last week. Pat Maurer, has been a part of the Clare County Review since 1983, first as a sales rep, then a writer, then editor and finally as owner. Along the way my…

Conference announces wrestling awards

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Southwest Conference has announced its 2025 postseason wrestling awards.All-conference local wrestlers were as follows for boys:120, first team, Aiden Munoz, Bangor, 8th at state, 31-13 record.126, first team, Austin Garcia, Lawton, second at…

Ice shelf blocks Black River channel entrance

Ice shelf blocks Black River channel entrance

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 1 min read

Spring might be here but fishing on the Big Lake can’t happen yet because of an ice shelf blocking the Black River channel entrance.By Tom Renner

SH Council debates merits of energy assistance program

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell A new Michigan law went into effect this year which requires the City of South Haven to decide whether to be part of the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP).At a Special Meeting of the Board of Public…

Most speakers at SH Council meeting opposed to possible STR ordinance

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell It was a packed Council Chambers at the South Haven City Council meeting on Monday night, March 3, 2025. This was not unexpected because a public hearing on the latest draft Short-Term Rental ordinance was on the…

Austell returns home to perform at Scott Club

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 3 min read

James Windell Connor Austell grew up in South Haven – not far from the Scott Club where he will perform on March 16, 2025, at 3:00 pm.Austell, a concert pianist who attended college at Grand Valey State University and the…

Former Paw Paw Public Schools employee faces charges of wire fraud

Former Paw Paw Public Schools employee faces charges of wire fraud

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – A former Paw Paw Public Schools employee faces charges of wire fraud in ex-cess of $20,000, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott said that in November…