News

Testimony links murders of Anthony Owens Jr. and Emarion Flowers

Testimony links murders of Anthony Owens Jr. and Emarion Flowers

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 7 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Testimony continued Monday, April 6 in the preliminary exam of three co-defendants accused of open murder in the shooting death of Anthony Owens Jr., age 44; and the assault with intent to murder of Kenneth…

Final suspects apprehended in Hanover Horton area robbery

Final suspects apprehended in Hanover Horton area robbery

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 2 min read

By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer The final two suspects in the Hanover Horton armed robbery case, Richie Jimenez, age 24, and James Goodall, age 25, were arrested this week, marking the conclusion of a months-long investigation. The apprehensions bring closure…

Infrastructure Under Pressure

Infrastructure Under Pressure

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 4 min read

Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer A larger-than-usual crowd filled Albion City Council chambers on Monday, April 6, drawn largely by concern over the city’s aggressive tree removal program. They stayed for a conversation that went much deeper — raw sewage backing…

Albion council meeting draws crowd, wraps early despite full agenda

Albion council meeting draws crowd, wraps early despite full agenda

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 4 min read

By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer With Mayor Victoria Garcia Snyder and Mayor Pro Tem Andrew French absent from the April 6 meeting, Council Member Lenn Reid nominated colleague Vivian Davis to serve as temporary chair — a motion that passed…

Centreville-Constantine police arrest man with multiple warrants

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 1 min read

CENTREVILLE — Police in Centreville arrested a man on multiple warrants following two hours of attempts Wednesday morning.According to the Centreville-Constantine Police Department, officers executed a search warrant at an apartment in Centreville for a person with multiple misdemeanor and…

‘Downtown’ explores the history of business and culture in Sturgis

‘Downtown’ explores the history of business and culture in Sturgis

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert “Downtown: 200 Years of Doing Business in Sturgis” premieres at 3 p.m. April 26 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Tickets are $10 at sites throughout downtown, or $12 online at sturgesyoung.com. It is produced by Mike Mort of Equity…

Coker pre-trial hearing wraps with May 7 ruling date set

Coker pre-trial hearing wraps with May 7 ruling date set

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 5 min read

By Christopher Johnson A second day of preliminary examination testimony in Lansing added sharp new financial detail to the embezzlement case against David Coker Jr., whose attorney is asking a district court judge to dismiss the charges before trial. Judge…

Easter in Clare County: April Valley meets April showers

Easter in Clare County: April Valley meets April showers

Editorial Staff Apr 10, 2026 6 min read

by Christopher Johnson The Easter Bunny may have had to ditch his usual flight plan this year, but he still made the long haul to Clare. This past weekend, while adults were waking up to the wildest tweets ever tweeted,…

Flooded fields shift Otsego Rotary Easter event to drive-up format

Flooded fields shift Otsego Rotary Easter event to drive-up format

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Not even heavy rain and flooded fields could stop the Otsego Rotary Club from spreading some Easter cheer.Faced with water-covered infields and walkways at Memorial Park, Rotary members shifted plans for their annual Easter Egg Hunt…

Rain drives Douglas Easter into school halls

Rain drives Douglas Easter into school halls

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 1 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorBummed? Beleaguered and now rained out? Roxanne Potter celebrated Easter with friends indoors instead.Easter Eve Saturday saw kids and families gather instead of a rain-logged Beery Field dryer Douglas Elementary halls.Pink, purple and pastel plastic eggs were scattered…

Will 40-home Enclave spur township growth?

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 10 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorTangram Development Group LLC co-founder Johnny Walker wants to build an Enclave of 40 Scandinavian modern single-family homes and duplexes on 9.13 acres on the northeast corner of Blue Star Highway and Old Allegan Road in Saugatuck Township.The…

Mea culpa on Bagierek bag mistakes

Mea culpa on Bagierek bag mistakes

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorErrors in last week’s “Should city bag PC vice-chair” bear correcting in the same bottom of Page A1 space.First, and most embarrassing, the photo gleaned from a CJ Bagierek, Saugatuck page is not of CJ but Kevin King,…

Much ado about chickens

Much ado about chickens

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 10 min read

By Scott SullivanWriter Chickens Sunshine, Sugar, Cinnamon, Butter, Butter, Piper and Isabella still have Douglas homes thanks to owner Kathy Sarkisian’s lawsuit, then settlement with agreement from the city.The Douglas chicken movement took wing May 18, 2017 when 18 petitioners…

Cheshire supervisor, trustee follow clerk resignation from board

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 4 min read

By Gari Voss The leadership of Cheshire Township in Allegan County has been extremely stable for years, but during the past year, the replacement of Donna Hetzel, an experienced clerk, brought a new clerk, Jodi Pinnell, and the expected uphill…

South Haven Performance Series announces 2026 season

South Haven Performance Series announces 2026 season

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 5 min read

By James Windell The South Haven Performance Series is genuinely excited about the strength of this year’s concert schedule and the expansion to a six-concert series. Th 2026 season, the 16th for the South Haven Performance Series, ranges from award-winning pianist Elliot Wuu to the…

Rain, rain and more rain: Saturday, April 4, brings rain, rain, and more rain

Rain, rain and more rain: Saturday, April 4, brings rain, rain, and more rain

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 1 min read

Standing water is shown on Sunday, April 5, near LTW Ergonomic Solutions, Lawrence, located on South Paw Paw Street, following Saturday’s daylong rain. Nearby, a grassy area south of the Lawrence Post Office was underwater on Sunday as Saturday’s rainstorm…

Area students to display art

Area students to display art

Editorial Staff Apr 8, 2026 3 min read

SOUTH HAVEN – Perspective: Middle and High School Art Exhibition will celebrate with an opening reception at the South Haven Center for the Arts on Friday, April 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. Artists, teachers, family, friends, and community members all invited…

Centreville scout on track for Eagle Scout rank at just 14 years old

Centreville scout on track for Eagle Scout rank at just 14 years old

Robert Tomlinson Apr 6, 2026 7 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — At the age of 14, some kids may be playing video games, eating junk food, scrolling online all day, studying, hanging out with friends, or some combination thereof. However, for one local member of…

Wastewater overflow reported in Constantine, no discharge to river

Robert Tomlinson Apr 4, 2026 1 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE — A wastewater overflow was reported at the Constantine Wastewater Treatment Plant Friday. According to the Village of Constantine, the overflow was first reported at 4 p.m. and was stopped approximately 20 minutes later, at…