It’s cold, but feathered friends not bothered
On, Friday, Jan. 21, area residents woke up to cold temperatures, reporting zero degrees. Feathered friends didn’t seem to be bothered by the chilly temperatures as they gathered on Maple Lake in Paw Paw. As the morning progressed, the sign…
PPFD trains for ice rescues
On Sunday, Jan. 16, members of the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department participated in an annual ice rescue training event held on Three Mile Lake, in Paw Paw Township.Photos courtesy of Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department
Gobles weight room revived thanks to facelift
by Ben MurphySports Writer Gobles football coach Greg Eichler has always seen the potential for a state-of-the art weight room at his school. Eichler, who recently accepted a job as principal in the district after several years as a social…
Obituary: Joyce Carlisle
Joyce Carlisle, a lifetime resident of Mattawan, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Her life began on Aug. 18, 1933, the daughter and second oldest child born to Lloyd and Iva Guiter.She learned the value of hard work through chores that…
Obituary: David “Dave” Nicholas
David “Dave” Nicholas, 86, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, Dec. 30, 2021, at White Oaks Retirement Residence, Lawton, with family at his bedside. David was born in his grandparents’ home, July 13, 1935, in Lawrence, MI to Paul…
Mike’s Musings: Get a Chuckle Out of These Laws
From time to time, I like to delve into the ancient annals of our history books to hu-mor myself with laws our representatives have enacted. Here’s a few silly laws I found. Michigan LawsThe City of Detroit passed an ordinance…
Life as Performance Art
“Vax or Tax” is an idea be-ing seriously considered in the Quebec Provincial Legis-lature and picking up trac-tion elsewhere.The basic premise is people who refuse to receive the full dose of the Covid-19 vac-cination are far more likely to become…
Basketball Roundup Mattawan tames Plainwell, Lawton bounces back
by Ben MurphySports Writer Lady Red Wolves get key win over Otsego The Paw Paw girls basketball team was able to pick up a big Wolverine Conference North Division win over Otsego on Friday, 46-43. The victory puts the Red…
Sports Roundup – Mattawan girls win 3, Paw Paw girls 2
By Ben MurphySports Writer Paw Paw boys nearly pick up first win on Friday at Allegan. Paw Paw’s boys basketball team was nearly able to taste victory for the first time this season on Friday in Allegan. The Red Wolves…
Mike’s Musings: Why hasn’t toilet technology advanced?
One of the great mysteries of modern technology, at least for me, is the modern toilet, or should I say the lack of improving flush technology since 1902. That year, the flush handle was added to the porcelain bowl, and…
Life as Performance Art
I am increasingly wary of doctrine. It is an all-inclusive wariness that covers religion, politics, science, economics and beyond. I am no anar-chist but cautious of too many laws and doctrines.Most doctrines start as someone’s idea. They cogi-tate about it…
Welch’s to expand Lawton plant, add jobs
Welch Foods expanding operations in Lawton, 57 jobs addedGov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce that Welch Foods is expanding its operations in the village of Lawton, where it will create up to 57 jobs…
Lowe named Lawrence “Firefighter of the Year”
Lawrence Township Emergency Services First Lieutenant Steve Lowe, right, was named the 2020 LTES Firefighter of the Year. He recently received the award due to COVID-19 restrictions. LTES Fire Chief Mike Anchor, shown at left, said Lowe “goes above and…
County approves ARPA funds for 911 operations center
By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, Jan. 11, approved a proposal to use $82,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover the costs of the HVAC improvements for Van Buren County’s…
Firefighters battle Red Arrow blaze, $150k in damages estimated
Lawrence Township Emergency Services Fire Department, with assistance from Hartford Fire Department, Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department, and Bangor Fire Department, battled a blaze early last Saturday morning Jan. 15, at 46724 Red Arrow Highway, Lawrence Township. Lawrence Township Emergency…
County Commissioners choose new chair, vice-chair
PAW PAW – The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners selected Randall Peat and Paul Schincariol as chair and vice chair, respectively, at the organizational meeting held Jan. 4.The chair and vice chair positions are selected annually. Randall Peat has…
Almena building suffers fire damage
On Friday, Jan. 7, at 3:58 a.m. the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire in the 25000 block of M-43 Highway, in Almena Township. The caller reported seeing flames protruding through the roof of the…
MSP vehicles struck on I-94
A Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper was injured in a crash in snowy conditions on Interstate 94 in Van Buren County Thursday afternoon, Jan. 6, according to Michigan State Police.Police said a small pickup truck lost control and hit a…
Courier Leader touts new website
By Jordan WilcoxTech Manager We here at Wilcox Newspapers are proud to announce our newly renovated website. Since we switched to a consolidated website in 2020, our news stories have had no proper online home. That changes for 2022.As many…
Area teams play contests after winter break
by Ben MurphySports Writer Paw Paw girls match last year’s win total The Paw Paw girls basketball team continued to show off their improvement from last season on Friday. The Lady Red Wolves took down host Vicksburg 55-44 in a…