Van Buren begins first steps in broadband expansion
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
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
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
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
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
Two area high school robotics teams were in competition in events held across the state this past weekend. 2PawR (Robotics) 5462 traveled to Saline High School where they competed in First Robotics Competition (FRC), while the Mattawan WiredCats, FRC Team…
Mike’s Musings: Michigan’s beauties evident during tour
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
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
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
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
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…
Mattawan schools launches strategic planning process
MATTAWAN – The Mattawan Consolidated School Board of Education and the District Administration announced they are launching a Dynamic Strategic Planning Initiative. The process will include community and staff input opportunities, data collection, and other efforts to create a shared…
Inflation, Ukraine situations hurt
By Mike WilcoxPublisherMost of us simply want peace in our lives, nation and world. We enjoy resting in a warm or cool house with something to eat, free from worry and stress.Peace is not always easy. This winter, chances are…
Life as Performance Art
By G.C. StoppelMid-March’s warm, sunny weather was a tonic we needed. This winter was a character builder; we had more cold, snow gray skies and bleak news than we wanted.With a few hours of sunshine, melting snow and migratory birds…
Obituary: Glenn Gordon Keith
Glenn Gordon Keith, 82, of Kalamazoo, died March 8, 2022. Glenn was born June 5, 1939, in Chicago, to Glenn and Grethel (Wilson) Keith.Glenn was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ann Corts; his brother, Robert Keith; and his…
Obituary: David Kelly Stephayn
David Kelly Stephayn was born Oct. 6, 1943, to Andrew Sr., and Viola (Kelly) Stephayn. He passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice in the evening hours of March 10, 2022, just moments after a final prayer was said for…
Obituary: Shirley Mearing
Shirley Jean Mearing, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, at the age of 86. She was the daughter of Richard Shaw and Virginia Wiley.She was a graduate of East Jackson High School, Jackson, MI in 1954.…
CDC updates framework to monitor COVID-19
LAWRENCE – As of Feb. 25, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its framework to monitor the level of COVID 19 and communities.Dr. Walensky, the Director at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that…
