Columns

On late cold nights when I was growing up, I would listen to my father’s shortwave radio receiver.  I could not make sense of the amateurs sending Morse Code but delighted in finding an English-speaking commercial station. There were many, but the…

Nobody knows who, nobody knows why, but $17 million of our money (taxpayers) has been paid out to federal lawmakers accused of sexual (as well as other types of discrimination) misdeeds from 1997 to 2017.Personally, I think this is despicable.…

Yard work must be done, so I’m out pruning and clipping when my old pal Tikins calls. As we talk, I stroll up into the shade next to the garage door. Tikins begins telling me a funny story which  is…

The Mighty Mac opened for traffic in 1957. This meant you could drive directly from the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula. You no longer had to wait hours to get on the ferry that transported everyone between…

I got one yelled eight year old Caleb. Indeed he did, another double of bluegill ended up in the livewell. For the second week in roll young Caleb was putting a hurt on the bluegills and showing us adults up.During…

Summer has settled right in and no one can dispute that it is just plain hot. The temperature has topped 90 for three days now and leaves hang in want of water. It is oddly quiet and there is next…

Officially, or unofficially, hot summer weather has arrived and our air conditioner – and the generator—are getting a real workout today (Tuesday). I’m looking at the calendar and the June, or Summer Solstice arrives Thursday. That is “officially” the end…

When I think of Father’s Day, I think about a number of things. My first thoughts are about my spouse, without whom I would not be a father, and the fantastic mother she is and always has been. I must…

By Scott SullivanEditorKrokodil RockI remember when rock was young. Me and Susie had no clue a Krokodil rock would find us.“Krokodil” I learned too late, is street name for Desomorphine, a synthetic opioid said to turn skin green and scaly…

“Maybe it’s in the closet,” Molly would say. “I’ll check.”We all knew what was coming: Fibber would shout to her, “Don’t touch that closet!” too late, and the sound effects man would pour his props into a metal container, much to the…

Don’t condemn me before I lay out my logic. Don’t call me a Putin lover or a Russian agent, I’m neither, but do have an opinion that differs from many in power these days.I’m not concerned with Russia. I don’t…

Each year at this time we feature the Albion High School Class of 100 years ago. The Class of 1924 had 94 members; 39 were boys, and 55 were girls. Most of them had been born around 1906. It was…

Two days ago I met a guy from Chicago.  He was trying to sell me a car and must have thought it was important to tell me that he used to be a major league baseball pitcher. I needed new…

Next Monday, June 17, the Riviera Theatre, in historic downtown Three Rivers, will host a forum featuring the five candidates for St. Joseph County Sheriff. This FREE event begins at 6:30 p.m., and is sponsored by the St. Joseph County…

What does it mean when we say that the Church is “catholic”? Automatically, we think of the Roman Catholic Church as one of several denominations of Christians, but what is meant by that descriptor. The United States Catholic Catechism for…

Watching the wildlife has always been one of my favorite things about living in Michigan, and it is a hobby that can be pursued just about anywhere, even in town, where, one spring, a deer trotted past the windows of…

There will be a bumper wild huckleberry crop this year, weather and Mom Nature permitting. This is an unexpected treat and long overdue. For several seasons, Mom Nature has not been overly generous with these little back woods sweet treats.…

By Scott SullivanEditorIncomingWith the longest, hottest summer ever on hand, you don’t need a weatherman to tell which way the Saugatuck City Council race is going.Three declared challengers for four open two-year seats in November cut loose on incumbents at…

(I wrote this a year ago but wanted share it again. Heck I might share this column over and over for years to come. The man meant so much to me) This week I give pause to reflect on my…

    About a week ago, on a hot and humid afternoon, I was doing some work on the lawn and gardens. I was close to the sidewalk when a couple of visitors to town paused and commented on the amount of…