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

Lawton sets millage rate, equal to last year

Editorial StaffJun 25, 20252 min read

LAWTON – Following an earlier public hearing with no public comment, the Lawton Village Council on June 10 approved a motion to establish the 2025 millage rates. The millage rate is equal to last year’s millage rate (16.9322 mills), due…

Two vehicle “violent collision” claims life of area resident

Editorial StaffJun 25, 20254 min read

Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Response handled a two vehicle PIA (personal injury accident) in Antwerp Township. “It was found that a vehicle exiting a parking lot pulled out in front of a vehicle that was approaching, hence causing…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 25, 20255 min read

The most popular male vocal duet in 1930s England was Flanagan and Allen. Their songs were light, filled with a bit of syncopation, close harmony and left audiences smiling with a renewed sense of hope.Among their big hits was “Underneath…

Mike’s Musings: Okay with bunker busters if they don’t lead us to war

Mike’s Musings: Okay with bunker busters if they don’t lead us to war

Editorial StaffJun 25, 20253 min read

Dropping bunker buster bombs in Iran last week will go down in history as one of the best military operations ever. Our planes went to and left undetected after dropping the world’s biggest bombs in an effort to destroy Iran’s…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20257 min read

   Earlier this month a longtime friend sent me one of his favorite quotes from Ecclesiastes: “Whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.”  He added a modern refrain: “And spikes our anxiety.”  I thought about it the next morning when I went…

Floating car, dragon boats featured at Harborfest

Floating car, dragon boats featured at Harborfest

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

Parking in South Haven can be a challenge, especially during the busy summer months. Unless you are inventive and “drive” a floating car. That was the scene on Saturday when boats of all sorts participated in the 44th Michigan Maritime Museum…

New community soccer field dedicated

New community soccer field dedicated

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

By Tom Renner A vision 21 years in the making became a reality on Friday (June 13) when the South Haven Area Recreation Authority (SHARA) and its many donor friends celebrated the opening of three new community soccer fields at…

School Board names Jegier “Teacher of the Year”

School Board names Jegier “Teacher of the Year”

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

Andrea Jegier was presented with the Teacher of the Year Award at the South Haven School Board meeting on June 11, 2025. Andrea is a K-5 English Language Development Teacher and English Language Coordinator for South Haven Public Schools.

South Haven Parks Commission accepts life rings donation

South Haven Parks Commission accepts life rings donation

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20253 min read

By James Windell Ryan and Mandy Servatius appeared before the South Haven Parks Commission on June 10, 2025 and offered a donation of 11 life rings for use at South Haven’s beaches and river.The couple, who are South Haven realtors,…

Paw Paw Fire Department battles structure fire

Paw Paw Fire Department battles structure fire

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

The Paw Paw Fire Department responded to a structure fire Thursday, June 12, shortly after noon. Paw Paw Fire Chief Kyle Richardson said the fire appears to have started from debris removal on the exterior of the residence where the…

Paw Paw softball falls one win shy of state title

Paw Paw softball falls one win shy of state title

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent EAST LANSING — Paw Paw’s softball team was hopeful of one more dramatic comeback win when it played Richmond for the Division 3 state championship on June 14 at Michigan State University.But the Wolves were unable to…

State Police investigate shooting, minor injuries to victim, suspect arrested

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Paw Paw post troopers are investigating a shooting where a 33-year-old Paw Paw man was shot and treated at the scene for minor injuries, Tuesday night, June 10, in Antwerp Township, according to…

Fatal crash claims life of Lawton woman

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com ANTWERP TWP. – A 64-year-old Lawton woman was killed Thursday afternoon, June 12, in a two-vehicle traffic crash in Antwerp Township, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s office.Van Buren County Sheriff…

Mroczek named Miss Michigan 4th Runner Up

Mroczek named Miss Michigan 4th Runner Up

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20251 min read

Lauren Mroczek of Mattawan, Miss Greater Kalamazoo, was named 4th Runner Up to Miss Michigan during the 86th annual Miss Michigan Scholarship Competition on Saturday, June 14, held at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon. As Miss Greater Kalamazoo, Lauren…

Mike’s Musings: Moving woes, why do I keep doing it?

Mike’s Musings: Moving woes, why do I keep doing it?

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20253 min read

For some reason I feel the need to move from one house to another, or one office to another, every few years. This time my fiancé and I, decided to move from our condo to a house on an acre…

Red Wolves rally for quarterfinal win

Editorial StaffJun 18, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — While the state semifinal win for Paw Paw’s softball team was dramatic on June 12 with Elizabeth Vanderburg’s walkoff home run, the quarterfinal victory two days prior didn’t lack for drama either.Vanderburg hit two…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJun 11, 20256 min read

    Over the past three decades and a sprinkling of years I have been fortunate to know a now-retired professor of mathematics at a small university here in Michigan.  Someone once said, “Math is just numbers,” but the subject is…

Mike’s Musings: My Father My Hero

Mike’s Musings: My Father My Hero

Editorial StaffJun 11, 20253 min read

(I wrote this a few years ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me)This week I give pause to reflect on my…

HarborFest set for this weekend

HarborFest set for this weekend

Editorial StaffJun 11, 20251 min read

HarborFest, South Haven’s first big festival of the summer season, is this coming weekend (June 13-14). A highlight is the Saturday morning Dragon Boat races on the Black River near the Southside marina. One of the Dragon Boat teams is pictured…

South Haven City Council makes more appointments

Editorial StaffJun 11, 20252 min read

By James Windell After an initial round of appointments to various boards and commissions on May 19, 2025, the South Haven City Council voted on additional nominations on June 2, 2025.Mayor Annie Brown nominates people for board and commission vacancies…