News

Hot Air Jubilee and U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championships take to Jackson skies

Hot Air Jubilee and U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championships take to Jackson skies

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer The annual Hot Air Jubilee balloon festival lands in Jackson at Ella Sharp Park on July 18-20. An added feature to this year’s event is the U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship, which began…

Horton man dies in single vehicle crash

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20251 min read

A 52-year-old Horton man died on Saturday, July 12 after hitting a tree head-on. MSP troopers were dispatched at approximately 7:10 a.m. to a residence in the 8200 block of Thorne Road in Liberty Township for a single vehicle crash.…

Dedeaux appears in court; his attorney claims case is not what it appears to be

Dedeaux appears in court; his attorney claims case is not what it appears to be

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Roe-Darrel Dedeaux, age 33, appeared via Zoom in 12th District Court on Friday July 11, in the courtroom of Judge Robert Gaecke, for a Probable Cause Conference Dedeaux had been held without bond in the…

Albion Church receives new electric van

Albion Church receives new electric van

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church is the recipient of a new all-electric van made possible through a program by Consumers Energy. Consumers Energy provided the van as part of its rebate program for fleets serving income-qualified communities, to provide affordable electric…

Group transforms Albion’s treasured waterways

Group transforms Albion’s treasured waterways

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

Michigan Waterway Stewards has been working in Albion to clean the Kalamazoo River of litter, trash, and other debris. The greatest achievement will be the clearing of woody debris to create navigable lanes, enhancing passive recreation on and along the…

Graber, Nash to share leadership at Norton Elementary

Graber, Nash to share leadership at Norton Elementary

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20256 min read

District to continue ‘conversation’ about Norton’s future as initial elementary enrollment decreases By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Two Three Rivers Community Schools administrators will be sharing leadership duties at Norton Elementary in what the school board says is…

Heritage Festival takes center stage in Burr Oak

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

By Steve Eldridge “A More Perfect Union” is the theme for the 2025 Burr Oak Heritage Festival, which is scheduled to kick off next Thursday July 24. The festival, which has always proved to be a big draw for the…

White Pigeon celebrates annual festival

White Pigeon celebrates annual festival

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20251 min read

On Friday, July 11, the White Pigeon Days festival held its annual street parade on U.S. 12 in the village. At left, Citizens of the Year Kelly (left) and Brian Bailey (right) ride by in a golf cart during the…

‘Color Run’ draws about 150 participants

‘Color Run’ draws about 150 participants

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20252 min read

By Dennis Volkert The third “Color Run” took place July 11 in downtown Sturgis, organized by Doyle Community Center. The event included 1-mile and 3-mile routes. Participants could run or walk. At several sites along each route was a “color station,”…

Former NFL players teach youngsters at Legends Camp

Former NFL players teach youngsters at Legends Camp

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20253 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Youngsters who love football beat the heat this week at Clare’s football field for the Legends Football Camp, featuring Jeff Chadwick and other Detroit Lions alums.Kristen Blackburn, a co-founder of the camp along with Chadwick,…

Clare County Fair kicks off Sunday with gospel concert

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20254 min read

By Genine Hopkins Clare County Fair 2025 is set to be a humdinger of a fair with the regular fan favorites of a demolition derby, a mud bog, rodeo, of course the 4-H animal exhibition for animals big and small,…

Farwell’s Lumberjack Festival is here

Editorial StaffJul 18, 20254 min read

By Christopher Johnson Farwell’s long-running Lumberjack Festival returns this weekend, promising a packed celebration with something for everyone.This has been a reoccurring festivity in our community for decades and promises to hit hard, fast and furiously. Clare County has been…

Improved Pier Cove Park beach reopens

Improved Pier Cove Park beach reopens

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20252 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorA renovated Pier Cove Park reopened to the public in time for July 4 weekend.Ganges Township — with help from a $266,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant, its own $65,500 match plus $15,000 from Friend…

‘Wild Heart of Saugatuck’ suits wind on

‘Wild Heart of Saugatuck’ suits wind on

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20254 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe battle for the “Wild Heart of Saugatuck” rages into its 18th year with an Allegan County Circuit Court judge narrowing the scope of a developer’s lawsuit against a group trying to block its plans.Judge Matthew Antkoviak June…

Robinson begins tenure as superintendent at OPS

Robinson begins tenure as superintendent at OPS

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20255 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shortly after entering the field of education in the mid-1990s, Christie Robinson developed what she called her “10-10-10 plan.”“I was going to spend 10 years as a teacher, 10 years as a principal and ten years…

City of Otsego benefits from Eagle Scout project

City of Otsego benefits from Eagle Scout project

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego’s Riverfront TOP Pavilion has three new picnic tables thanks to the efforts of Otsego High School junior Zachary Knapp.The tables—which were constructed as part of Knapp’s Eagle Scout project —are all Americans With Disabilities Act…

Ganges Twp residents object to proposed campsite

Ganges Twp residents object to proposed campsite

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20256 min read

By Gari Voss What happens when a campground that has been a questionable neighbor appears to be in partnership with a group requesting a special permit to build another campground across the road from the existing business? Residents in Ganges…

29-year-old man drowns in river near Allegan Dam

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20251 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent Allegan County Central Dispatch received a 911 call on July 11 at approximately 8:06 p.m., staying that someone had fallen into the Kalamazoo River at the Allegan Dam and had not resurfaced.Another subject had also fallen in,…

Pick-up crashes in to semi, driver dies

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20251 min read

On July 14th 2025 at 0619 hours Allegan County Central Dispatch received a call regarding a serious traffic crash that occurred on M-40 Ave near 141st Ave, in Fillmore Township.  Preliminary investigation indicates that a pickup truck was traveling north on M-40 and went into the south…

City Council considers beach concession surcharge

City Council considers beach concession surcharge

Editorial StaffJul 16, 20253 min read

By James Windell It promised to be a South Haven City Council meeting devoid of controversy and contention on Monday, July 7, 2025, in the City Hall Chambers.The first several items on the agenda lived up to that promise. And…