
‘Wild Heart’ suits rage on
By Scott SullivanEditorDeveloper North Shores of Saugatuck, L.C.C. has sued Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance founding president David Swan in Allegan County Circuit Court for: Going BackNorth Shore’s latest filing dates back to when Oklahoma City natural gas magnate Aubrey McClendon…
Life as Performance Art
The smartest thing a city can do is install sidewalk benches in its retail distract. If one of a couple wants to pop into a shop, the other can sit outside people watching.Am I looking in a mirror when I…
Mike’s Musings: Olympics should be about sports and sports only
I’ve been an avid fan of the Olympics since I was a pre-teen. I was glued to the TV set in my teenage years, watching the opening ceremony and most of the events. It was a tradition I have always…
Obituary: William “Bill” Beery
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Bill Beery. Born on August 25, 1950, to Donna and Harold Beery, Bill lived a full and vibrant life until his peaceful departure on July 28, 2024.…
Festival of light, life here!
To arms, legs and hearts: The Venetian Fest is coming! The community’s annual celebration of life on our waterways arrives this weekend starting with a dance party Friday, July 26 in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park; continues Saturday with an afternoon dinghy…
Audit shows Laktown in solid shape
By Jim Hayden Correspondent Laketown Township is in solid financial shape, per its recently-completed audit. Siegfried Crandall principal accountant Joshua Gabrielse presented the 2023-24 fiscal year audit to the township board Wednesday, July 10. Highlights: • Laketown’s total net position…
‘Million Dollar Quartet heat up at SCA
The Million Dollar Quartet — rock’n’roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — met in Memphis Dec. 4, 1956 for an epochal 1-day gig you can see re-created starting Aug. 10 at the Saugatuck Center…
City taps Thompson as new planning/zoning head
BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck has appointed South Haven planning and zoning assistant Luke Thompson as its new cityhead of both. As planning and zoning director, Thompson fills a post city manager Ryan Cummins has doubled in since replacing former manager…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Big Wave“One in five Michiganders,” says the Vertical Cherry website, “turn to alcohol for making big financial decisions.” Well, that explains things.“Do I dare to eat a peach?” I’d say in the day, overlooking the produce aisle.…
Venetian Fest brings back boom!
To arms, legs and hearts: The Venetian Fest is coming!The community’s annual celebration of life on our waterways arrives this weekend starting with a dance party Friday, July 26 in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park; continues Saturday with an afternoon dinghy poker…
Life as Performance Art
On Saturday the thirteen of this month, Pat and I were out along the lakeshore for beautiful evening at Ox-Bow School of the Arts. There is not cell phone service there, so we missed hearing the news of the…
Mike’s Musings: One would never imagine an assassination attempt, a president resigning in one week
What a week for the history books. First a former president, now the leading candidate for president, survived an assassination attempt, then his opponent, the current president announced he would no longer be running for a second term.I’m still confused…
Deer, deer, they’re everywhere!
By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas deer complaints keep rolling in. May Street resident Debbi Larsen wrote city council July 8: “Hello, I live in Douglas and have for the last 25 years. The deer population in the last 5 years…
Locals guide to Venetian Fest fun
The Saugatuck Venetian Festival, a perennial summertime celebration of life on our waterways, returns to town next weekend July 26-28. Fun will begin Friday with a dance party in Coghlin Park featuring ‘80s cover band Star Farm. The festival continues…
SPS Superintendent Travis to retire
Tim Travis is retiring as Superintendent of Saugatuck Public School effective Dec. 31. The school board accepted his retirement at Monday’s meeting. Travis has been an educator for 40 years, the last 20 here, including as middle/high school principal before…
Obituary: Victoria Anne “Vicki” Mayer (nee Thompson)
Victoria Anne “Vicki” Mayer (nee Thompson) passed away on July 6, surrounded by her loving family, after a five-year battle with fronto-temporal dementia, and primary progressive aphasia.Vicki was born June 9, 1962, in Chicago, the daughter of Jerry Thompson and…
Blue Star
NuclearLast week’s “STR cap may go nuclea’ anyway” story already has. Then came the shooting in Pennsylvania.I applaud Saugatuck City Council for trying to protect peace, quiet and safety in Community Residential neighborhoods. That’s what R-1 zoning is meant to…
You can get there from here!
By Scott SullivanEditorThe new roundabout at Blue Star Highway and Allegan Road opened formally Monday, but more than one motorist jumped the gun.“Look at them,” said Woodland Nursery owner Joe Migas, who for 39 years has kept alive John Mann’s…
Mike’s Musings: Tone down political Rhetric demand answers from ss
Like many of you I was in shock when I heard there was an assassination attempt on former president Trump’s life while he was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania. It had been 43 years since the barbaric act of…
Life as Performance Art
Another “Old” in the grocery checkout lane ahead of me asked the clerk, “Is this the airport?”“What do you mean?” she asked, baffled.“I’d expect to pay this much for a bottle of water there, but not here,” he said.She rolled…





PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 ALLEGAN COUNTY PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET
The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allegan will hold a budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for all interested citizens to comment and discuss the proposed budget.
The hearing will take place at 7:00 PM in the Board Room, County Services Building, 3283–122nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan, to discuss the proposed budget. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. The public may also participate in the meeting/public hearing by calling 1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 891 6032 7098, and Meeting Password 471420. For other options connecting to the meeting, please visit the meeting calendar website at www.allegancounty.org or contact the County Administrator’s Office.
The proposed budget may be examined online at www.allegancounty.org under News Media Room or on weekdays at the Office of the Allegan County Administrator (address below), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.
County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the public hearing upon one (1) week notice. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the following in writing or by telephone:
Robert J. Sarro,
County Administrator,
3283 – 122nd Avenue,
Allegan, Michigan, 49010
269-673-0239