News

Water break closes Douglas street

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

Douglas has closed Westshore Street betweenSt. Peters Drive and Hamilton Street on heels a watermain break there Friday. The break has been repaired, city officials said, but water over the roadway has created potential safety concerns due to erosion. City…

Venetian Fest ‘25

Venetian Fest ‘25

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

… was a blast. See more photographs inside.

Christian Neighbors hosts Back to School Celebration

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With July drawing to a close, the start of a new school year is creeping ever closer.Otsego Public School’s first day of classes is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19, while Plainwell Community Schools will welcome students…

Weather alters plans for Island City Festival

Weather alters plans for Island City Festival

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The potential for some rainy weather led to changes for this year’s Island City Festival.Most of the festival—originally scheduled to take place in and around downtown Plainwell on Saturday, July 26—was moved inside Plainwell High School’s…

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

Several municipalities, schools have contested elections Tuesday

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20257 min read

By Gari Voss Summer months are packed with outdoor activities, special events, family memories, and more. With the busy family schedules, many residents forget that there is often a “primary” election in August. On August 5, 2025, from 7am to…

Missing Kayakers Located in Kalamazoo River – All Individuals Safe

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

 The Plainwell Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce that several kayakers reported missing earlier Saturday have been successfully located and removed in the Kalamazoo River. All individuals are safe and accounted for. At approximately 7 pm on Saturday, a…

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Burnett appointed to 57th District bench

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

Local market raises money for family in auto accident

Local market raises money for family in auto accident

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Gari VossThe news could not have been worse. Village Market employee Jordan Otto and her husband Michael had been in an automobile accident as they were headed home from a shower. Jordan was pregnant and near delivery, but a…

National Blueberry Festival set for next weekend

National Blueberry Festival set for next weekend

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell West Michigan is the leader of the blueberry industry because of the ideal acidic soil and the lakeshore climate that promotes a thriving crop. Although blueberries are now grown all over the U.S., West Michigan is still…

City Council approves new fee schedule for STRs

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell What the public talks about in the public comments portion of the South Haven City Council meetings is always a foreshadowing of later events in that meeting. So it happened on Monday, July 21, 2025.The second person…

Missing child at South Beach quickly found

Missing child at South Beach quickly found

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

By Tom Renner South Haven beaches have been packed during the current sweltering heat wave. A response to a report of a missing child at the South Beach on Wednesday brought a quick response from city beach safety, police and…

Ward 3 candidate is running unopposed

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By James Windell David Flack is the only person who filed to run for the soon-to-be open position in Ward 3 in South Haven’s City Council elections. That position is available because George Sleeper has served two terms and is…

Meet Dave Flack: Candidate for City Council Ward 3

Meet Dave Flack: Candidate for City Council Ward 3

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20253 min read

By James Windell Although Dave Flack is running unopposed for the Ward 3 South Haven City Council seat, he isn’t going to take his campaign lightly. He is out talking to people and getting to know the issues in Ward…

Work on Maple Island Pedestrian Bridge underway

Work on Maple Island Pedestrian Bridge underway

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

The Maple Island Pedestrian Bridge is currently being removed and replaced with a new bridge this summer. Work began earlier this month. Maple Island Park will be closed for the duration of the project, which is anticipated to run through…

Foul weather fails to dampen spirits at Paw Paw Days

Foul weather fails to dampen spirits at Paw Paw Days

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

Despite cloudy skies and some rain, it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who participated and attended the 2025 Paw Paw Days, held Saturday, July 26, in downtown Paw Paw.Photos courtesy/Paul DeYoung

Body discovered near Mattawan Creek

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com MATTAWAN – The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office reported on Friday, July 25, the discovery of a deceased man in the Village of Mattawan, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Based…

Dumpsters vandalized at Paw Paw Schools construction sites

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20252 min read

PAW PAW – It was recently brought to the attention of Paw Paw Public Schools and reported to local law enforcement that several dumpsters around PPPS bond project construction sites have been the target of missing materials, equipment or other…

Road Commission begins work on Red Arrow Highway

Editorial StaffJul 30, 20251 min read

LAWRENCE – The Van Buren County Road Commission began work Monday, July 28, along Red Arrow Highway from County Road 681 west to the Hartford city limits. The project will be accomplished by Michigan Paving and Materials Company and involves…

Albion Council to Vote on Washington Gardner Redevelopment July 28

Albion Council to Vote on Washington Gardner Redevelopment July 28

Editorial StaffJul 25, 20255 min read

By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion City Council will vote on a redevelopment proposal for Washington Gardner School at their next meeting on Monday, July 28, at 7 p.m. Meetings are being held at Marshall Opportunity High School, located at…

HUGE Estate Sale
August 27-30, 10 am - 5 pm (Part II September 17-19)
57520 Gearharts Landing, Three Rivers, MI

Antique furniture (some special finds!), Hoosier Cabinets, Wonderful dressers, Beds, Desks, Lamps, Wicker, Trunks, etc. Women’s Vintage Clothing, Fur Coats, Boots, Linens, Large Quilt Collection, Jewelry, Pocket Watches, Clocks, Nice Pottery, Comic Books, Huge amount of DVDs & CDs, extensive collection of Vintage Christmas, Patio and Garden Accents, Old Toys (many wind-up). Too much stuff to list! Over 60 years of accumulation! The Best Antique Sale we have ever seen! “Dealers, don’t miss this sale!”

Managed by Covered Bridge Estate
Text or call: 269.251.4869