News

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director STURGIS — Two out of the three local school districts with proposals on the Tuesday, May 5 ballot were successful with voters. The one failed proposal was also the biggest out of the three monetarily. Sturgis…

By Scott SullivanEditorThe City of Saugatuck is pleased appointed Mark Ondersma its new Director of Public Works, with a start date of May 26.Ondersma, who replaces 9-year DPW head Scott Herbert, brings nearly two decades of municipal and military public…

By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas City Manager Lisa Nocerini asked council Monday to review and perhaps revise her contract re:

By Scott SullivanEditorChicago builder Johnny Walker — after nine years as a self-employed real estate investor focusing on evolving assets, per his LinkedIn website page — and his family fell in love, as many do, with Saugatuck.“My wife was in…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A familiar community favorite returns this week with a fresh look and a new home.The Plainwell Farmers’ Market opens its 2026 season today (Thursday, May 7), with a move to Hicks Park in downtown Plainwell.The market…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A pair of seniors from both Otsego and Plainwell have been recognized for their accomplishments in the classroom and in athletics as part of the Wolverine Conference Scholar Athlete program.This year’s honorees from Otsego are Rebekah…

By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer On Wednesday April 29, 2026, a Fennville mom allegedly shot her 10-year-old son and then took her own life in their Allegan County home.Elisha Mulcahey and her son Daniel were found dead by Allegan County Sheriff…

By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer One year ago last month, the Seifried family of Allegan County experienced the worst kind of tragedy possible: the loss of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia Iris. On April 26, 2025, a drunk driver plowed into their…

By James Windell After a lengthy Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, the members of the South Haven City Council faced a long agenda for its regular first-Monday-of-the-month meeting.However, apparently the Committee of the Whole meetings…

By James Windell We know your beloved pet runs your household, but does your dog or cat have the right stuff to run the City of South Haven?If you think they have what it takes, Al-Van Humane Society has a…

By Tom Renner The Rotary Club of South Haven marked its 70th year of service to the community and beyond with an anniversary celebration on Friday, May 1. The club was chartered in February, 1956 with an initial membership of 25,…

By James Windell When the South Haven History Club went to the State competition for National History Day recently, they garnered lots of compliments.“There were a lot of compliments given to me that South Haven students really represent themselves well,”…

By Elizabeth Ferszt One year ago last month, the Seifried family of Allegan County experienced the worst kind of tragedy possible: the loss of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia Iris. On April 26, 2025, a drunk driver plowed into their front…

Thanks to an extremely generous donation by local caterer Dorene Serbenski to the Friends of the Paw Paw District Library, the May 14-16, 2026 book sale at the Library will feature a wonderful selection of over five hundred cookbooks from…

A ribbon cutting was held Saturday, May 2, for the new Maple Island Bridge. The new bridge is 200 feet long and was designed by Abonmarche Engineers and built by Riverworks Construction. It replaces a bridge that was built in…

A bond renewal request for Sturgis Public Schools failed at the May 5 election.  According to preliminary results from St. Joseph County clerk, the request was rejected by a vote of 1,501 to 1,277, or 54 to 46 percent. An…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director VICKSBURG — Voters in the Vicksburg Community Schools district will be one of three locally that will be seeking a continuation of millage funding in the May 5 election. On the May 5 ballot, the district…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director COLON — Colon Community Schools district voters will have their say on May 5 in whether a measure to pay for long-term building repairs and improvements can continue for the next eight years. On the May…

By Robert Tomlinson and Dennis Volkert STURGIS — Voters in the Sturgis Public Schools district will have a say Tuesday as to whether a school bond will be renewed for the next six years to fund a number of school…

At the April 22 meeting of Sturgis City Commission, Jordan Smith of accounting firm Maner Costerisan presented the audit report of the city’s financial performance for the period ending Sept. 30, 2025.  The city received a “clean” opinion, which is…