Bid to work on Dyckman Bridge approved by SH City Council
By James Windell The South Haven City Council approved a quote from Davis Construction, Inc. to repair the Dyckman Avenue Bridge.Although it has been known for several years that the Dyckman Avenue Bridge over the Black River needed repairs, the…
City Council receives short term rental snapshot report
By James Windell One sure fire way of generating discussion – and sometimes division – on the South Haven City Council is to place an item related to Short Term Rental (STR) on the agenda for a City Council meeting.That…
Thrift Shop pays tribute to two volunteers
Charlene Bare and Richard Szotek, volunteers at Community Thrift Shop, Paw Paw, recently celebrated their 90th birthdays with a birthday cake given in honor to the pair by the thrift shop. Bare has been a Community Thrift Shop volunteer for…
Mattawan has big plans for auditorium improvements
Following the successful passage of the 2024 bond, Mattawan Consolidated School is currently undergoing changes and improvements throughout the district. The high school’s James A. Weeldreyer Auditorium is currently seeing microphone upgrades, industry standard LED lighting and a new AV…
Women Who Care donate $9k to Paw Paw robotics
Paw Paw High School’s 2PawRobotics female team members gave a successful presentation to the 100+ Women Who Care of Van Buren County on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and were the recipients of $9,000. The 100+ Women Who Care of Van Buren…
Lawton names inductees for Hall of Fame
Lawton Community Schools have announced the 2024-25 Lawton Blue Devil Hall of Fame inductees. Named to this year’s Hall of Fame induction class are Troy and Janine Johnson (shown at far left) – Outstanding dedication in coaching, volunteerism, and supporting…
Obituary: Peggy Lynn Shamblin
Peggy Lynn Shamblin, 70, passed away January 16, 2025, after an extended period of illness. She was born November 24, 1954, to Paul & Lillian (Scott) Knapp of Pullman, Michigan. She was the youngest child, having two older siblings, Patrick…
Obituary: Dr. Martin John Bukovac
Dr. Martin John Bukovac, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Horticulture Department at Michigan State University (MSU), died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing, Michigan. He was 95 years old.The funeral service will be…
Life as Performance Art
Only the Olds will remember the chart above the blackboard in every fourth-grade classroom across the nation. It was the alphabet, both capitals and lower-case letters, in cursive.It was bad enough having to learn how to print; now that we…
Trump made many promises, now let’s see if he can fulfill them
Welcome to the greatest political comeback ever recorded. America has gotten the president they wanted, and Trump has chosen the cabinet he wanted, and now it’s time to get down to business and make sure the promise that were made…
Residents want changes in proposed STR ordinance
By James Windell A special meeting of the South Haven City Council was called on Thursday, January 16, 2025, with just two items on the agenda. That limited agenda seemed to promise that the meeting would be brief and uneventful.However,…
Ice Breaker Festival kicks off Jan. 31
By James Windell The weather may be frigid, but the city of South Haven will heat up with it’s annual Ice Breaker Festival.Taking over downtown South Haven from Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 2, Ice Breaker will feature a…
Meet Kevin Swope: new South Haven Police Chief
By James Windell When Kevin Swope was 15, he became a Police Explorer.“This was a program like Boy Scouts,” Swope, the South Haven Police Chief, said in a recent interview. “That was in Garden City and after that I kept…
Man convicted for attempt to steal $700k from Four Winds
HARTFORD – A federal jury has convicted a Chicago man for his role in a scheme to steal $700,000 from a Hartford casino.The Office of the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Michigan announced Friday, Jan 14 that Jesus…
Lawton Village Council considers public safety millage
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – A public safety millage is still under consideration by the Lawton Village Council. At the village council’s Tuesday, Jan. 14, meeting a village resident asked about the public safety millage formula.During Citizens’ Comments, Village…
Officers elected for Paw Paw Board of Ed
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – During the annual Paw Paw Board of Education organizational business meet-ing, held Jan. 13, board officers elected for 2025 include: President – Brent McNitt; Vice President – Dale Pease; and Secretary – Ray…
Paw Paw boys defeat Edwardsburg
By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — Paw Paw’s boys basketball team defeated Edwardsburg 57-52 on Jan. 15.Paw Paw had quarter leads of 14-11 after the first quarter and 39-38 after the third. The Red Wolves trailed 29-23 at halftime.For Paw…
Life as Performance Art
According to physicians, therapists, pollsters and others, we are sadder than in the past. We smile less and feel gloomier, leaving many without much hope or enthusiasm for the future.In fact, about one in four, or some two billion people,…
Mike’s Musings: Is insurance claim worth chopping your feet off?
In the midst of all the drama many of us experience I thought I’d write about an unusual story, actually better words would be strange and bizarre, that comes from the Ozarks in Missouri.Here’s the setup:A man wanted to cash…
South Haven cheerleader set for strong season
By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — Jada A. Lewis-Suggs is a key member of South Haven’s competitive cheer team this season.“We have performed really well together and connect really good,” Lewis-Suggs said. “I would say I performed well so early…
