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

Mike’s Musings: Transgender athletes should not compete with females

Mike’s Musings: Transgender athletes should not compete with females

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 3 min read

It took years to pass Title 9, which essentially put women’s sports on an even keel with men’s. Now female athletes enjoy the same funding, facilities, etc, that male athletes have had since high school and collegiate sports were popularized…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 6 min read

“Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me. And may there be no moan-ing of the bar when I put out to sea,” wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson. His poem, often used at funerals, came to mind after reading…

County agrees to allocate $7 million in ARPA funds for broadband

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 3 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, Jan 25, approved a request to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling $7 million for county broadband expansion.After reviewing several ARPA proposals for broadband expansion,…

Road Commission plans Hartford Township project

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 1 min read

Construction is scheduled to begin in March on County Road 687 South of Interstate 94 at the Howlett and Conklin Drain in Hartford Township. The Van Buren County Road Commission is working with the prime contractor, Lounsbury Excavating, Inc., Paw…

Facility upgrades detailed as Paw Paw Schools prepares ballot issues

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 1 min read

Representatives from TowerPinkster, architecture, interior design and engineering firm for Paw Paw Public Schools (PPPS), and Owen-Ames-Kimball (O.A.K.), PPPS construction management partner, presented district-wide facility upgrades and project highlights Thursday, Jan. 27, at the high school’s Performing Arts Center (PAC)…

Paw Paw Township Residence Damaged by Smoke

Paw Paw Township Residence Damaged by Smoke

Editorial Staff Feb 2, 2022 1 min read

On Saturday, Jan. 29, at 8:40 p.m., the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 38000 block of 64th Avenue, Paw Paw Township. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-family residence well involved with fire. Firefighters…

Public invited to Paw Paw’s Bond Election presentation

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 2 min read

PAW PAW – Tonight, (Thursday, Jan. 27), the Paw Paw community is invited to a public presentation and work session on the proposed May 2022 Bond Election, pending approval by the Board of Education. The meeting will be held at…

It’s cold, but feathered friends not bothered

It’s cold, but feathered friends not bothered

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 1 min read

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

PPFD trains for ice rescues

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 1 min read

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

Gobles weight room revived thanks to facelift

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 4 min read

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

Obituary: Joyce Carlisle

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 2 min read

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

Obituary: David “Dave” Nicholas

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 5 min read

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

Mike’s Musings: Get a Chuckle Out of These Laws

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 3 min read

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

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 5 min read

“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

Editorial Staff Jan 26, 2022 6 min read

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

Sports Roundup – Mattawan girls win 3, Paw Paw girls 2

Editorial Staff Jan 19, 2022 8 min read

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?

Mike’s Musings: Why hasn’t toilet technology advanced?

Editorial Staff Jan 19, 2022 3 min read

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

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Jan 19, 2022 6 min read

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’s to expand Lawton plant, add jobs

Editorial Staff Jan 19, 2022 3 min read

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”

Lowe named Lawrence “Firefighter of the Year”

Editorial Staff Jan 19, 2022 1 min read

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…

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.