News

By Scott SullivanEditorSaturday’s planned No Kings rally planned for Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park didn’t happen.“We learned late insurance would cost $8,300 to use the park for public political event,” said Saugatuck-Douglas Indivisibles spokesperson Erin Wilkinson. “It was $250 for our past…

By Scott SullivanEditorShould Saugatuck bag CJ Bagierek as planning commission chair after a 40-page probe led by city manager Ryan Cummins with town attorneys showed he and wife Kimberly likely ran an illegal short-term rental at 610 Lake St. throughout…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Students at Starr Elementary School had a special opportunity to meet a local author and learn about the creative process behind their favorite books.Denise Brennan-Nelson visited the school recently, sharing her experiences as a writer and…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PLAINWELL—A residential fire in Plainwell on Saturday evening resulted in one fatality, according to officials with the Plainwell Department of Public Safety.The victim was later identified as 58-year-old Ted Ray Hughes, Jr.The fire was reported at…

By Art NicholasFor years, many residents across Allegan County faced a frustrating reality: living in modern Michigan but unable to stream a video, attend a virtual doctor’s appointment, or complete homework reliably. A sweeping broadband initiative — now essentially complete…

By James Windell Phillip J. Green, the U.S. Magistrate Judge assigned to the Pat Carlotto case, has signed an order appointing a mediator in the case.Carlotto, a 25-year veteran of the South Haven Police Department, was passed over for police…

By Tom Renner South Haven high school students in a geometry class took a recent assignment quite literally.The assignment was created by Amy Cockburn, the high school principal who is also teaching the geometry class.Students were tasked to apply circle…

By James Windell A special meeting was called by the South Haven Planning Commission on March 23, 2026 in order to hold four public hearings. Three of the public hearings related to special land use applications. The other had to…

On Saturday, March 28, in Paw Paw, the local Indivisible group marked its one-year anniversary of hosting peaceful protests at the same time joining millions of Americans in an organized day of action for the third No Kings event. The…

On March 24, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office formally recognized Ricky Holly for his courageous and selfless actions during a residential structure fire that occurred on Feb. 28, in Pine Grove Township.Holly was presented with a Letter of Commendation…

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported on March 25, a detective sergeant with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a citizen who was fishing on Wolf Lake in Almena Township. The individual reported observing a suspicious…

Firefighters from five departments responded to a fire that engulfed a Columbia Township mobile home early Sunday morning.The departments were dispatched to 18th Avenue near 53rd Street, west of Breedsville in Van Buren County, at 3:12 a.m.Responding was the Columbia…

COLON — The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a child in the Colon area that was reported Tuesday. According to police, deputies were called in the early morning hours Tuesday to the 400 block of…

By Scott SullivanEditorArms are up in the precincts after the Allegan County Commission dumped 20-year senior meal provider Community Action for Allegan County in favor of Grandville-based Meals on Wheels for $8.50 per meal, compared to CAAC’s $12.27). CAAC’s 3-year…

The Otsego Arts Council will host its annual Arts Competition May 1-9 at the Otsego District Public Library, continuing a community event that celebrates artists of all ages.Now in its third year at the library, the competition will feature a…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A powerful blend of myth, music and storytelling is coming to the Plainwell stage.Plainwell High School will present “Hadestown: Teen Edition” for a three-show run beginning Friday, March 27, and continuing through Sunday, March 29.Showtimes are…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A local teacher is in the running for a special award from a major sports team in the state for her commitment to her students. Alyssa Henneman, a special education teacher at Centreville Elementary…

By Scott SullivanWriter Arms are up in the precincts after the Allegan County Commission dumped 20-year senior meal provider Community Action for Allegan County in favor of Grandville-based Meals on Wheels for $8.50 per meal, compared to CAAC’s $12.27). CAAC’s…

By Gari Voss Logan Vangemert made his way onto the stage at Brandon Elementary School on Friday morning, March 20, 2026, to receive the Heart Saver Award from the American Heart Association. Though this was the regular monthly school-wide assembly,…

By James Windell A conceptual plan for a memorial garden and fountain in front of the City Hall was proposed to the South Haven City Hall.According to Tom Renner, the idea originated with SHOUT for South Haven as a downtown…