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

Hundreds attend National Night Out

Hundreds attend National Night Out

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20251 min read

By Tom Renner Haven marked National Night Out with an event that attracted hundreds to the downtown the downtown pavilion. Law enforcement and fire/EMS agencies were joined by several community organizations. The Van Buren Sheriff horse unit joined in the…

Brown, Hosley to face off for mayor in November

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20252 min read

By James Windell The South Haven primary election was held for mayor and city council candidates on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. The top two candidates for mayor and for city council in each ward will face each other in the…

Lawrence Township Fire Department holds a Centennial celebration

Lawrence Township Fire Department holds a Centennial celebration

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20251 min read

A centennial celebration was held Saturday, Aug. 9, in Lawrence for the Lawrence Township Fire Department. The event featured fire truck demos, food trucks, games, raffles, music and family fun. Shown in photo from left, Lawrence Township Supervisor, Donna Spenner,…

Gobles man faces several charges including strangulation

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20252 min read

A 31-year-old Gobles man faces several charges following an incident Wednesday, Aug. 6, according to a press release from eh Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.The incident took place at approximately 10 p.m. in the 25000 block of 36th Street.Deputies responded…

Grand Junction man faces charges following four-mile pursuit

Grand Junction man faces charges following four-mile pursuit

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20251 min read

Sheriff Daniel E. Abbott reports that on 08/07/2025 at approximately 7:30 p.m. a Deputy on patrol in Columbia township attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a pickup truck for multiple traffic violations. The driver of the vehicle failed to…

Former Van Buren County Specialty Court Administrator arrested on embezzlement charges over $100k

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20251 min read

PAW PAW – Michigan State Police (MSP) Fifth District Special Investigation Section an-nounced the arrest of Rachel Celeste Lindley, 42 of Bethesda, Maryland, for felony embezzlement over $100,000 and felony embezzlement by a public official.Lindley previously worked for Van Buren…

SUV crashes into Amish buggy in Bloomingdale Twp., multiple injuries reported

Editorial StaffAug 13, 20252 min read

BLOOMINGDALE TWP. – Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched Friday, Aug. 8, at 7:45 p.m. to the 45000 block of County Road 388 for a report that an SUV had crashed…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20257 min read

    The other day I came across some World War Two era song books in the bottom of my accordion case.  They were published by what was then called the War Department and widely distributed by the USO to bases…

Mike’s Musings: Why You Matter More Than You Think

Mike’s Musings: Why You Matter More Than You Think

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20254 min read

In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, where headlines are filled with division, disaster, and doubt, it’s easy to wonder: What difference can one person really make?The truth? More than you could ever imagine.We are taught to look…

New recycling barn added to Antwerp Township Transfer Station

New recycling barn added to Antwerp Township Transfer Station

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20253 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com ANTWERP TOWNSHIP – The Antwerp Township Transfer Station recently saw the completion of a Recycling Barn last fall that has improved the Township’s recycling efforts, according to the Antwerp Township supervisor.Daniel Ruzick said the township received…

Mattawan police officer killed in line of duty remembered during 20th anniversary memorial service

Mattawan police officer killed in line of duty remembered during 20th anniversary memorial service

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20251 min read

LAWRENCE – The Lawrence Township Fire Department will hold a Centennial Celebration, Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Lawrence Township Fire Station, 205 N. Paw Paw St., Lawrence.The event will feature fire truck demos, food trucks,…

Lawrence volleyball, South Haven golf coaches preparing for season

Editorial StaffAug 6, 20252 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWRENCE — Anita Robles is volleyball coach at Lawrence and is getting excited for the season.“On Aug. 11, we will be setting up and sending reminders for tryouts,” Robles said. “The week of Aug. 11th we will…

‘Dog days’ features canine competition, live music

‘Dog days’ features canine competition, live music

Editorial StaffAug 1, 20251 min read

As one might expect, a canine show was the focus of “Dog Days,” held Aug. 1 in downtown Sturgis.Participants competed for ribbons in five categories: Best Pooch Costume, Best Talent/Trick, Musical Chairs, “Waggiest” Tail and Judges Choice for Favorite Dog.Sweet…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20257 min read

   We often ask each other, “What are your plans for today?”  which really means “What are your goals to accomplish and then check off your to-do list?”  Or we ask ourselves about our plans for the day. Is there…

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

Here we go again. This time it is too close to home. Another alleged nut-job gone crazy injuring a dozen people, some critical at a Wal Mart, not with a gun, but with an ordinary pocketknife. If it weren’t for…

National Blueberry Festival set for next weekend

National Blueberry Festival set for next weekend

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell West Michigan is the leader of the blueberry industry because of the ideal acidic soil and the lakeshore climate that promotes a thriving crop. Although blueberries are now grown all over the U.S., West Michigan is still…

City Council approves new fee schedule for STRs

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell What the public talks about in the public comments portion of the South Haven City Council meetings is always a foreshadowing of later events in that meeting. So it happened on Monday, July 21, 2025.The second person…

Missing child at South Beach quickly found

Missing child at South Beach quickly found

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

By Tom Renner South Haven beaches have been packed during the current sweltering heat wave. A response to a report of a missing child at the South Beach on Wednesday brought a quick response from city beach safety, police and…

Ward 3 candidate is running unopposed

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By James Windell David Flack is the only person who filed to run for the soon-to-be open position in Ward 3 in South Haven’s City Council elections. That position is available because George Sleeper has served two terms and is…

Meet Dave Flack: Candidate for City Council Ward 3

Meet Dave Flack: Candidate for City Council Ward 3

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell Although Dave Flack is running unopposed for the Ward 3 South Haven City Council seat, he isn’t going to take his campaign lightly. He is out talking to people and getting to know the issues in Ward…

PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.

The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.

The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:

Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239