News
Bloomingdale Schools Cardinal Connection April 2026
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NFL star again gives to city parks
By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck’s once-anonymous $100,000 Village Square Park donor is famous NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins. He and wife Julie, both Saugatuck residents, have given to the community before, helping build playgrounds in Douglas parks — now it’s Saugatuck’s…
Impressionists pour into Petter soon
By Scott Sullivan Editor J. Petter Galleries, 161 N. Blue Star Hwy., Douglas, will showcase the Art Coast of Michigan hosting the 10th annual American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase throughout May starting early Wednesday, April 29, with a Paint…
SHS grad Holmes does D.C
By Scott Sullivan Editor Olivia “Liv” Holmes no longer lives in her Saugatuck home but in an apartment near Kalamazoo College where she is a junior — and double agent. Every so often she slips off to Washington D.C. to…
Spring: blooms and sewer flushings
Spring brings birds, bees, buds into blooms and, most important for Kalamazoo Lake Sewer & Water Authority (KLSWA) staff, sewer flushings. Starting Monday, April 20, look for reflective crews dislodging fine sediments and iron deposits from the mains. This essential…
Kuklafest celebrates pioneer puppeteer Tillstrom
Saugatuck — home of the late Burr Tillstrom, creator of the beloved television show “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” and one of Saugatuck’s most-cherished famous figures — will be celebrated during Kuklafest 2026 Saturday, April 25, in the Saugatuck Woman’s Club,…
Grant Collection adds another gem
By Scott SullivanEditorThe Grant Collection is on a buying spree. Owners Brian and Candice Grant, whose luxury event venues started with Holland’s Port 393 in 2020, saw opportunities near their own Saugatuck home and started stacking them up. Port 393The…
Mantels out after decade as deputy
By Scott SullivanEditorTen-year Saugatuck Township District Deputy Chief Chris Mantels (shown at left) is no longer on the job.Chief Greg Janik said personnel matters must by law be kept confidential, but added many of Mantels’ duties regarding commercial building applications…
Otsego band takes memorable, music-filled trip to Florida
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For members of the Otsego High School band program, a recent trip to Florida provided far more than just sunshine and sightseeing.It was a chance to grow as musicians, perform on a national stage and create…
Plainwell Art Hop moves to April, offers evening of art, music and more
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With a new date and a wide variety of artists and activities, the Plainwell Art Hop is set to return next week with something for just about everyone.The annual event will take place from 5 to…
Wayland Schools grieving tragic loss, Community came out for board meeting
By Joseph Schultz The crowd that packed the boardroom for the Wayland Union School Board meeting Monday night experienced a rare bittersweet meeting. Bitter, from the passing of freshman Dallyce Parm, who took her own life on April 2.Parm’s death…
Sale of Calkins Bridge Dam rests with commissions
By Gari Voss The Calkins Bridge Dam that forms Lake Allegan is one of the 13 dams whose sale is being examined by state and federal regulators. Members of the Lake Allegan Association have been involved in multiple discussions, first…
New $800k ice rink begins construction
Workers install a maze of wire support structures in anticipation of the construction of the new ice rink at South Haven’s downtown pavilion.The $800,000 project is intended to improve the winter-time ice skating rink with a more efficient in-pad cooling…
Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments in the South Haven drowning case
By James Windell The Michigan Supreme Court has just announced that it will hear oral arguments related to government immunity in a fatal drowning case.Crystal LeDuke filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of South Haven in May 2024…
Former DQ demolished in downtown South Haven
By James Windell The building that was once a Dairy Queen and more recently Kitchen Tribes restaurant is no more.A demotion team with two large excavators made short work of reducing the buildings at 555 and 559 Phoenix to a…
Council approves appointment to planning commission, ZBA
By James Windell One of the duties of the Mayor of South Haven is to nominate people to serve on boards and commissions.With openings on the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, Mayor Annie Brown fulfilled her duties…
New county veterans services director named
Michael Fossitt, shown above, was recently promoted to Van Buren County Veterans Services Director. Fossitt previously served as a Van Buren County Veterans Services Officer. Fossitt is a Paw Paw native and a decorated Army veteran who served with the…
Mattawan Schools non-homestead operating millage on May ballot
MATTAWAN – On May 5, Mattawan Consolidated School will ask voters to renew its Non-Homestead Operating Millage for another four-year term. The millage rate is currently 19.4227, with the maximum being levied at any point is 18 mills.The district last…
Deputies find suspect hiding in garage, charged with multiple felonies
ALMENA TWP. – Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported on April 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 25000 block of M-43 in Almena Township for a reported assault.Upon arrival and investigation,…
Former court administrator’s sentencing rescheduled
The sentencing for a former county court administrator who pleaded guilty to embezzling over $100,000 is being rescheduled.Rachel Celeste Lindley, 42, a former Paw Paw resident, began working for Van Buren County as the Specialty Courts Administrator in 2016 before…
