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

Decatur VFW sponsors veterans stand down

Decatur VFW sponsors veterans stand down

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 min read

A Van Buren Veteran Stand Down was held Friday, Oct. 10, at the Decatur VFW, 560 N Phelps St., Decatur. The event gave service veterans an opportunity to connect with local resources, support services, and fellow veterans. The Van Buren/Cass…

Paw Paw Council approves new outdoor space next to library

Paw Paw Council approves new outdoor space next to library

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – A new outdoor space will be developed in an empty lot owned by the Paw Paw District Library, according to Paw Paw District Librarian Gretchen Evans.On Monday, Oct. 13, the Paw Paw Village…

Van Buren District Library Millage renewal to be on Nov. 4, ballot

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 2 min read

According to an information sheet provided by the Van Buren District Library, the 2015 supplemental millage allowed Van Buren District Library (VBDL) to open all seven locations six days per week and significantly expand community programming. Renewing this millage ensures…

Paw Paw runners take fourth

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Paw Paw cross country boys team was third and the girls fourth on October, 9 in the Rock-N-Run invitational at Dowagiac.St. Joseph was first for the boys at 48 while Buchanan was second…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 6 min read

By G.C. StoppelAbout the time Pat and I married, new neighbors moved next to our home, and in no time Pat and Sylvia became close friends.Pat had worked in the fur department at Marshall Field’s in Chicago. Sylvia was across the street…

Mike’s Musings: I dare you to put down that cellphone and pay a visit

Mike’s Musings: I dare you to put down that cellphone and pay a visit

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 3 min read

Interaction with other people is critical to our mental health. The texting, phone calling crowd must put down their cellphones occasionally and actually visit friends and families. Unfortunately, this is not happening enough and so many problems are caused because…

Former SHHS athlete now Hope College’s baseball coach

Former SHHS athlete now Hope College’s baseball coach

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 5 min read

By James Windell When Ryan Dorow was a senior at South Haven High School and played three sports, there was only one thought in his mind: Play, play, play!Playing baseball and other sports was all he could think about. He…

Friends Good Will put to rest for winter

Friends Good Will put to rest for winter

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 1 min read

A very familiar scene along the South Haven coastline during the summer months, the Michigan Maritime Museum’s Friends Good Will, was put to rest for the winter months this past weekend.During the downrigging process, volunteers dropped her lines, spars and…

STR owners pack South Haven City Hall council chambers

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell The City Hall Council Chambers was just not spacious enough to accommodate all of the Short-Term Rental owners who showed up for an STR Informational meeting.Billed on the City of South Haven’s website as an opportunity to…

South Haven High School has a new principal

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

By James Windell South Haven High School started the year without a principal. A search for a replacement for Joe Allen, the 2024-2025 high school principal, has been going on since he resigned this past summer to accept the position…

Paw Paw High School senior named 2026 commended student by National Merit Scholarship

Paw Paw High School senior named 2026 commended student by National Merit Scholarship

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – Paw Paw High School Principal Tammy Southworth recently announced that Leah Graves has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation…

Rally to be held Oct. 14, in Paw Paw to remember Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – A rally, what would have been the 32nd birthday of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Maple Lake Amphitheatre, Paw…

Hartford man arrested, faces a variety of charges

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 3 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com DECATUR – A 33-year-old Hartford area man faces a variety of charges, including flee and elude, possession of methamphetamine, following his recent arrest, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.The man,…

Paw Paw Fire Department’s annual appreciation dinner honors many

Paw Paw Fire Department’s annual appreciation dinner honors many

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Fire Department’s Annual Appreciation Dinner was held Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Paw Paw Fire Department.Following the dinner, the introduction of officers and awards were presented.Department member Brandon Hall, who…

Paw Paw soccer blanks Buchanan

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Paw Paw Red Wolves soccer team traveled to Buchanan for its final regular season game on Monday and won 6-0.“The boys dominated the game maintaining possession throughout,” Wolves coach Mike Lounsbury said.Scoring for…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 8 min read

   Prior to the Presidential election of 1932, Will Rogers and Franklin Roosevelt were standing in front of a microphone at a public event.  Of the two, Rogers was the better known and held in higher esteem by most Americans. …

Mike’s Musings: Elected leaders- Do the right thing, eliminate earmarks

Mike’s Musings: Elected leaders- Do the right thing, eliminate earmarks

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 4 min read

One of my often rants is the use of earmarks or pork barrel, as we used to call them, projects sneaked into the federal or state budget at the last minute, to benefit a particular constituency. It happens every year…

Paw Paw tennis falls to Three Rivers

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — After a rainout before the 1st ball was struck the night before, Paw Paw played host to Three Rivers last week indoors at West Hills.Paw Paw took the early lead with a decisive win…

SHAES receives grant to acquire portable gas detectors

SHAES receives grant to acquire portable gas detectors

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 1 min read

South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) has been awarded a $2,000 grant from Michigan Gas Utilities (MGU) through its Rewarding Responders Grant program.The grant is being used by SHAES to purchase eight small carbon monoxide detectors that attach to EMS…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.