Douglas Elementary students celebrated Halloween on Halloween proper Friday, parading throughout the building and gym in front of appreciatively terrified parents, many of whom would later take the kids trick-or-treating through neighborhoods. Teachers dressed up to get in on the…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorBROOKLYN—So close, yet so far away.That has been a familiar refrain for the Saugatuck girls cross country team when it comes to the Trailblazers’ quest for a podium finish at the State Finals.And unfortunately for Saugatuck coach…

By Scott SullivanEditorChicken RunZoe Rosenberg faces up to five years in the pen for pilfering four chickens from a Perdue Farms poultry plant in Petaluma, Calif.Her defense team argued the University of California senior and animal activist rescued the birds…

By Scott SullivanEditorResults of a Saugatuck city master plan survey conducted this August through Oct. 6 showed 386 respondents agree overwhelmingly that preserving existing neighborhood character should be a city priority.Other popular goals include maintaining:1) A vibrant, strong and attractive…

Another week has passed, and much of our federal government remains shuttered. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay. National parks are closed, small business loans are on hold, and millions of Americans are…

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, we observe Veterans Day. It is a “fixed” holiday, like Independence Day on July 4. These days do not move to the nearest Monday so we can have a long weekend; they are too important to…

BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck voters returned all three incumbents in a five-way race Tuesday, Nov. 4, to three available two-year seats on the city council. Current mayor Holly Anderson and councilman Joe Clark topped all comers with 240 votes each.…

By Scott Sullivan Editor A Saugatuck man drowned Oct. 20 after falling off the roof of his houseboat in Mecosta County. Joseph Petty, 81, was performing routine maintenance on the vessel docked at Newaygo Boat Club on the Muskegon River…

By Scott Sullivan Editor It was 20 years ago this June when Barry and Kathy Johnson opened Saugatuck Brewing Co. in its current home at 2948 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas. “We’ve been married for 46 years,” said Barry last week…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PARCHMENT—Facing Coloma and Parchment on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Saugatuck volleyball team came away with a pair of wins.The Trailblazers bested Coloma 17-25, 25-20, 25-20 and upended Parchment 25-19, 12-25, 26-24.Natalia Laskowski had a big night,…

Bright day gave way to dark night for Saugatuck/Douglas Halloween festivities Saturday. A morning Family & Pets Parade through downtown Saugatuck (shown) was followed by thousands packing downtown Douglas for its annual Adult Parade. (See more photos inside.)

By Scott SullivanEditorSmart to be DumbIn their new book “The Enigma of Reason,” cognitive scientists Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier argue people’s capacity for reason might have more to do with winning arguments than thinking straight. Humans’ biggest advantage over…

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck again has a contested city council race, with five candidates seeking three available 2-year seats on Tuesday, Nov. 4. City voting this year will take place at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club, 303 Butler St., rather than city…

I have a niche genre of movies that make me happy. The basic plot is the main character sees others around him or her living in the shadowlands, takes action, faces challenges and drama, then the magic happens.One of the…

One of the consequences of a government shutdown should be that those legislators responsible for the shutdown should not receive their regular pay. In my mind they are just as much part of the government as the hundreds of thousand…

By Mike WilcoxOwner/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.…

By Scott Sullivan Editor  Ganges Township will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly-enhanced Pier Cove Park Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. All are welcome. The township — with help from a $266,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust…

By Scott Sullivan Editor Roy Davis, 59, has “come home” to Saugatuck with no home. He has lived in Wicks Park since July, making do with a sleeping bag, ice-fishing tent, propane heater and clothes on his back. We spoke…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorA standout performance from Camdyn Drozd helped carry the Allegan volleyball team to a 25-21, 25-11, 25-17 win over host Saugatuck on Thursday, Oct. 16.Drozd racked up 12 kills and 13 digs, both of which led Allegan.Emma…

By Scott SullivanEditorIt’s time for the best spooky fun of the season as Saugatuck-Douglas celebrates Halloween early this this week.What better place to start than at Dykstra Funeral Home Thursday, Oct. 23 for “Evening at the Parlor” exploring the history…