News
Albion Elks Lodge Donates $6,000 to Local Food Access
By Maggie LaNoue The Albion Elks Lodge #1798 recently presented a $6,000 donation to the Community Table of Albion, marking the largest single contribution the lodge has made to the local food assistance program and bringing its three-year total support…
Flower power Constantine grad, former Sturgis flower shop owner leads floral design for award-winning Rose Parade float
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director PASADENA, Calif. — One of the great American traditions on New Year’s Day has been the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., which has been held on New Year’s Day nearly every year since 1890.The parade features…
Dog rescued from icy water south of Colon
COLON — A dog was rescued by from an icy channel by local firefighters Sunday near Colon.According to a post on Facebook from the Colon Community Fire and Rescue, at 10:19 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to Long Lake Road south…
TR celebrates New Year’s Eve with Riviera’s ‘Midnight on Main’
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A group of revelers rung in 2026 with an annual celebration at the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers last week.The Riviera hosted its 17th “Midnight on Main” event on New Year’s Eve,…
Clare welcomes new officer James Chinavare
By: Lindsey Ashley At this Monday’s meeting of the City of Clare Commissioners, City Clerk Diane Lyon formally introduced the city’s new hire, Officer James Chinavare.Recently, the city identified a vacancy for a patrol officer job with the Clare Police…
Clare High School team wins Titan Challenge
Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan (JANCM) announces the winners of the 2025 JA Titan Business Challenge. This immersive business simulation tests high school students’ strategic and critical decision-making skills by placing them in the role of CEO of a…
Tommy House and Friends: Still packing the house with debut album
by Christopher Johnson Every community has their guy when it comes to music. That local celebrity everybody knows by name and nickname. That can shred a guitar, dispense knowledge like an encyclopedia, and recount some fascinating lore from a rich…
Douglas man is pickleball champion
Peter Colvin of Douglas and doubles partner Mark Mark Kenworthy of Grand Rapids, who qualified for the U.S. Senior Pickleball Nationals Dec. 5-9 in Daytona Beach by winning the Northern Regionals Doubles Tournament. But they placed just ninth. “It wasn’t…
Douglas OKs Wildwood entry sign
By Scott Sullivan Editor The Wildwood Lane Association can place a new monument sign at its entrance after Douglas City Council Monday a planned unit development amendment allowing it. The site condominium development, city planning and zoning administrator Sean Homyen…
Eder joins Trail Friends board
Bob Eder of Saugatuck Township has joined the Friends of the Blue Star Trail board of directors. Eder and his wife Janet relocated here from Chicago in 2020, moving into a vacation home they have owned since 2008. He is…
Downhill duck
Not all ducks fly, though this one did at least metaphorically down the Schultz Park sled hill last week. (Photo by Scott Sullivan
Last call for old Red Barn Playhouse
By Jim HaydenCorrespondentThe final curtain call for a Saugatuck barn that hosted summer plays for almost 50 years is coming in 2026.The former Red Barn, at 6357 63rd St. northeast of town, is expected to be razed and replaced with…
Otsego NHS continues ‘Share the Warmth’ partnership with Kalamazoo Gospel Mission
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As winter settles in across Southwest Michigan, members of the Otsego High School National Honor Society are once again working to help ensure those in need have the proper clothing to stay warm.Throughout January, the OHS…
My Future Fund program launching for PCS kindergarten students
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorAre you the parent or guardian of a kindergarten student who attends Plain-well Community Schools? If so, you may want to mark your calendar for an upcoming informational meeting introducing the My Future Fund program, which will…
Plainwell meeting set for Jan. 12
By John RaffelCorrespondent PLAINWELL — The next meeting of the Plainwell City Council is set for 7 p.m. on Jan. 12.At the council’s most recent meetings the council was to consider Plainwell City Charter having an annual audit of all…
Governor orders flags at half staff in honor of Chief Haverdink
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday to honor the late David Haverdink, who died on Christmas after being hit by a vehicle while on duty as the chief of the Hamilton…
Dorr Township residents oppose, question potential data center
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In the latter half of 2024, Microsoft Corporation completed one of the largest single-use land purchases in Dorr Township history, paying approximately $48 million for a 272-acre parcel off 144th Avenue near U.S. 131. The property…
Revelers usher in 2026 at Allegan riverfront and elsewhere
By Gari Voss The traditional welcoming of 2026 in Allegan was designed to accommodate all ages. The celebrations began at the Allegan District Library as the youth, their caregivers, and young-at-heart gathered for fun activities that culminated at high noon…
South Haven responds to Carlotto’s lawsuit
By James Windell The City of South Haven responded to Pat Carlotto’s employment lawsuit alleging discrimination. The lawsuit was filed in late November 2025 in Federal District Court.The formal answer to the initial suit was filed with the Court on…
Area fire department honor guards pay tribute to fallen fire chief
The Paw Paw Fire Department Honor Guard, shown above, and the Lawton Fire Department Honor Guard, both assisted with the visitation and funeral service for Hamiliton Fire Department Chief David Haverdink on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 5 and 6. The…
