Life as Performance Art
Over the past few years, we have heard the phrases “sanctuary city” and “sanctuary state”many times. In the US, it has become politically divisive because sanctuary cities and states have traditionally been labeled liberal or “blue states” where the…
Mike’s Musings: Is Cracker Barrel’s new strategy, doomed?
With Congress on vacation for the entire month of August (how dare they) and very little else happening, the Cracker Barrel rebranding hit center stage in last week’s news cycle. The CEO and Marketing Manager rolled out a new contemporary…
Paw Paw soccer team ties Kalamazoo HomeSchool
By John RaffelCorrespondent The Paw Paw boys soccer Red Wolves recently played the Kalamazoo Home School Cougars at home and played to a 0-0 tie on Monday, Aug. 25. Spencer Peruski had the shut out in goal. The back line…
Maryanne Ruby receives proclamation from the Governor
By James Windell When Maryanne Ruby received a standing ovation from colleagues, family and students at the South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) meeting recently, it was in recognition of her more than 25 years as a swim coach.But the…
Chamber of Commerce hosts 49th annual All Crafts Fair Labor Day weekend
By James Windell More than 150 vendors and 13 food trucks will take up residence in Stanley Johnson Park August 30 and 31, 2025 for the 49th Annual All Crafts Fair.Organized by the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce, the…
Deputies rescued jet skiers who spilled in Lake Michigan
Deputies from the Marine Division of the Van Buren County Sheriff Department assigned to South Haven rescued jet ski boaters who were spilled in the high waves of Lake Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred approximately two miles southwest of…
Lawrence Ox Roast & Homecoming festival set for Labor Day weekend
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWRENCE – The Lawrence Ox Roast & Homecoming festival on Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, will see fireworks and more to celebrate a century-plus tradition, while marking the annual event.The event began on…
Mattawan Stadium ribbon cutting to be held September 5
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 5, celebrating the completion of Phase One of Mattawan Stadium, a new turf and track, at Mattawan Consolidated School. It will be held at 6:45 p.m., just prior to the…
Village of Paw Paw begins work on Briggs Dam
PAW PAW – Following the partial failure and subsequent repair of Briggs Dam in 2017, the State of Michigan’s Dam Safety Division recommended the complete replacement of the spillway as a long-term solution.The Village of Paw Paw has been working…
Life as Performance Art
Life as Performance Art: Joan AndersonG C Stoppel Joan Anderson died on the 14th of July this year at the age of 101. I suspect her name is hardly familiar anymore, but she was perhaps the greatest social influencer in…
Mike’s Musings: Why So Many Michiganders Under 30 Can’t Afford a House
The dream of homeownership, once a clear stepping stone into adulthood, now feels like a mirage for many Michiganders under 30. Despite living in a state often touted for its affordability, structural barriers have erased much of the margin that…
Paw Paw tennis team stops West Catholic
By John Raffel PAW PAW — Paw Paw’s boys tennis team defeated Grand Rapids West Catholic 5-3 in recent action.SinglesNo. 1 – Kyle Carpenter, Grand Rapids West Catholic def. Terrance Fisher, Paw Paw, 6-0, 6-0.No. 2 – Eric Fitchpatrick, Paw…
South Haven salutes veterans with flotilla, band, large crowd
by Jim Windell, The South Haven fishing community took Veterans out on Lake Michigan for the morning. Returning with their catch, they were greeted at noon by a flotilla of boats led by the SHAES fireboat. A large American flag floated…
Community Recreation Director hired for South Haven
By James Windell Although the South Haven City Council approved hiring a Community Recreation Director, it wasn’t until June, 2025 that the council approved making it a fulltime position with benefits.Scott Reinert, South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) Administrator, thought…
South Haven Planning Commission approves Master Plan
By James Windell When the South Haven City Hall City Council Chambers are packed for a Planning Commission meeting, you can assume two things: One, this will not be a brief meeting; two, there will be controversy.This was the case…
National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out attracts many to Paw Paw
“It was a good turnout for National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out in South Haven and Paw Paw. A huge thank you to the community for coming out and all the continued support, it’s appreciated more than you know,”…
Village Market Food Centers to be acquired by Harding’s Friendly Markets
All four will soon be sold to Harding’s Friendly Markets. Photos from Google Maps. By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In late June, major news broke when SpartanNash announced their sale to a New Hampshire grocery conglomerate. As a Byron Center-based wholesaler…
Lawrence cheer continues to have success
By John RaffelCorrespondent Melissa Pyle is head coach for sideline cheer at Lauren and recalls major highlights from a year ago.“Tripling the number of cheerleaders was a highlight/record/top moment of the season.” Pyle said. “Senior captain Kennedi Klock and junior…
Walker recognized for lasting impact on South Haven
By Tom Renner A long standing tradition of the Bobby Walker Basketball Tournament in South Haven is to begin the summer weekend event with the presentation of Leadership Awards to civic leaders, organizations and sponsors. This year the ceremony had a…
