Familiar faces return to local offices
BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck voters returned three incumbents and added a former mayor to four open two-year city council seats in the Tuesday Nov. 5 election In Douglas, all four incumbents withstood two challengers, also for four available two-year seats.…
Saugatuck football gets past White Pigeon
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorWHITE PIGEON—Entering the fourth quarter of its Division 8 opening-round playoff game against White Pigeon on Friday, Nov. 2, coach Bill Dunn’s Saugatuck football team seemed to have the game well in hand.After all, the Trailblazers had…
Obituary: Lucy Kuipers
Lucy Kuipers of Holland died peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 28 in the company of her sister and granddaughter. She is preceded by her husband Glen, daughter Laura and mother Wilhelmina.“Grama Kuipers” was adored by 4…
Obituary: Robert Miller
Robert Miller, 49, of Oak Park, Ill. passed away on Oct. 15, 2024.Rob was born July 23, 1975 and grew up in Lapeer and Saugatuck. He was a band member from junior high through high school, graduating from Saugatuck in…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorAll Things PassAh, joys of being a weekly print paper. We go to press on election Tuesdays long before polls close, so our Thursday-dated issues come out sans outcomes.Of course, readers who care can learn them on our…
Campaign finance complaint clouds city vote
Tuesday’s general election vote fell under late-breaking Michigan Board of Elections confirmation it was investigating the entity EPIC — which funded ads, signs and mailings for three Saugatuck City Council incumbents — based on a complaint about campaign-financing violations.The vote…
Saugatuck, Douglas to fete Veterans Day
Saugatuck will celebrate Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 11, in traditional fashion while Douglas will do something new.Members of Saugatuck American Legion Post 137 will parade from their 248 Mason St. hall down Butler Street to the Village Square Park Veterans…
Mike’s Musings: Here’s Hoping Civility Will Reign Once Election Over
I’m writing this on Election Day. I have no idea who is going to win the presidential race, but I do fear whoever wins, there will be discord in our nation. I have had this uneasy feeling in my stomach…
Neidlinger is SPS super- pick
By Scott Sullivan Editor Mark Neidlinger will succeed Tim Travis seven years ago stepping from Middle/High School principal to superintendent of Saugatuck Public Schools. The school board picked Neidlinger Oct. 22, on heels of a public interview, to succeed Travis,…
Bond ask won’t mean new taxes, mayor says
By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas Mayor Cathy North issued a statement Oct. 24 emphasizing city council’s proposed $4-million bond request to renovate 415 Wiley Road into a city hall/police station will not require new taxes for residents and businesses. The…
Obituary: William (Bill) Weaver Hess
William (Bill) Weaver Hess of Saugatuck passed away peacefully Oct. 21, 2024, after fighting a long illness. He is survived by his loving partner of 46 years, Michael (Mike) Mattern, four nieces and one nephew. Bill was predeceased by his…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorJust becauseyou don’t know what itmeans doesn’t meanit means nothing. We’re No. 135!Saugatuck is the third Most Zen City in Michigan and 135th in the nation, per Mission Connection. With elections looming, this is balm to know.“In our…
Face of America
… as seen in Rado Kirov’s reflective sculpture “Pyramid” outside the Douglas Police Station on Center Street. The predominant yellow of fall leaves and silver of the sculpture surface have been color-inverted here. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)
Transformed
Downtown Douglas’s Center Street was transformed Sautrday night for Hystopolis Productions’s annual Adult Walking Halloween Parade. The event yearly draws more than 10,000 viewers and costumed participants, and follows afternoon fun including a downtown Saugatuck Family Parade. This photo is…
City council races are highlights here
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck and Douglas voters have choices for city councils Tuesday, Nov. 5.In Saugatuck, incumbents Helen Baldwin, Scott Dean, Gregory Muncey and Lauren Stanton face challenges from Joe Leonatti, Chris Peterson and Sherry Tedaldi for four open two-year seatsIn…
Mike’s Musings: Warning: Negative Political Ads Can be bad for your Health
I don’t know about you, but I have a headache from negative advertising. I rarely watch regular network television but last Sunday I had to turn on FOX to watch the Detroit Lions dismantle the Tennessee Titans.The Lions took care…
Douglas notices $4M bond ask
By Scott Sullivan Editor Contractor Carbon Six Construction Monday shared with Douglas City Council build-out plans to turn 415 Wiley Rd. into a new city hall and police station. Members agreed to post notice of a $4-million bond ask to…
Halloween bash Saturday offers fun for all
There is something lucky about the number 13 and Halloween. Douglas will celebrate the Oct. 31 holiday five nights early, Saturday, Oct. 26, for the 26th year. That’s 13 years each for late parade founder Ginger Wilkinson and daughter Erin…
SPS eyes principal for superintendent slot
By Scott Sullivan Editor The Saugatuck Public Schools board was set to interview the district’s one internal applicant — middle/high school principal Mark Neidlinger — for superintendent to replace the retiring Tim Travis. The public was invited to attend. Travis…
