News

Resident taken to hospital, dog dies in house fire

Resident taken to hospital, dog dies in house fire

Editorial StaffMar 28, 20251 min read

The Surrey Township Fire Department was called out to Half Moon Train in Lake at 5:30 Tuesday morning for a structure fire. On arrival the structure was found to be fully involved. Fire crews made a quick and aggressive interior…

County spends $109k to defend against Ambrozaitis lawsuit

Editorial StaffMar 28, 20255 min read

Clare County officials are committed to transparency and accountability in the management of taxpayer funds. As part of ongoing efforts to provide clarity on the costs associated with the recent “Prosecutor vs. Clare County” lawsuit, filed by then Prosecutor Michelle…

Kunse, Hauck take questions from concerned citizens

Kunse, Hauck take questions from concerned citizens

Editorial StaffMar 28, 20256 min read

By David Hutchinson State Representative Tom Kunse and State Senator Roger Hauck held an “office hour” meeting with the public at Cops & Doughnuts bakery in Clare on March 24. The two statesmen addressed a variety of residents’ questions and…

Ferry drain rebuild is Progressing

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20252 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Douglas efforts to reopen north-south Ferry Street between West Shore Drive and Campbell Road continued apace last week, city manager Lisa Nocerini said. The city hopes to reopen the stretch by Memorial Day weekend if everything…

Palisades specter looms over Series talk

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20254 min read

The 11th annual South Haven Speakers Series will kick off Thursday, April 10, with Max Vanatta discussing “Nuclear Power: Risks and Rewards” on Lake Michigan College’s South Haven Campus starting at 7 p.m. Small modular reactors, says Vanatta, a doctoral…

Douglas eyes timely Ferry reconnect

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20252 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas efforts to reopen north-south Ferry Street between West Shore Drive and Campbell Road continued apace last week, city manager Lisa Nocerini said.The city hopes to reopen the stretch by Memorial Day weekend if everything goes to plan.Douglas…

Cow Hill Bowl-A-Thon scores $6K for charity

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

Cow Hill Yacht Club’s third annual Bowl-A-Thon Feb. 16 at Alley’s in Douglas raised close to $6,000 for 501c3 nonprofit to distribute to area people in need of help for heating and electrical bills, gas money, car repairs, funeral costs,…

Autism program to move from OPS to home districts

Autism program to move from OPS to home districts

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20253 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the past several years, Otsego Public Schools has served as host to a county-wide autism program.However, that will change at the conclusion of the current school year.Due to a space crunch faced by OPS, Level…

Wayland Union Schools breaks ground on new pool facility

Wayland Union Schools breaks ground on new pool facility

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

Wayland Union Schools has begun construction on a new pool facility. This project is part of a $49.7 million bond that was passed by voters in May 2023.Wayland Union Board of Education accepted bids for this project in February 2025,…

Volunteer Fair pinnacle of Allegan County Gives 2025

Volunteer Fair pinnacle of Allegan County Gives 2025

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20254 min read

By Vicky Knuckles & Gari Voss Allegan County Gives means more than digging into pockets for loose change. A special Volunteer Fair promotes the wonderful work of volunteers who give their time and talents to non-profits across Allegan County. During…

Conagra to close in Fennville

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

A food plant in Fennville is expected to close this summer.Chicago-based Conagra Brands confirmed the pending closure to News 8 Wednesday, saying it told workers it would happen by the end of June.“This decision was based on the need to…

South Haven hires new police chief again

South Haven hires new police chief again

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20255 min read

James Windell For the second time this year, the City of South Haven has a new police chief.Dennis Honholt, currently the Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the city of Dover, Tennessee, will become South Haven’s police…

Gail Patterson-Gladney to retire from South Haven Memorial Library

Gail Patterson-Gladney to retire from South Haven Memorial Library

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20255 min read

By James Windell When Gail Petterson-Gladney retires from the South Haven Memorial Library on March 29, 2025, she can look back at a nearly 25-year career of helping children.Although she says it is a happy occasion because of her future…

South Haven Schools staged walk-in to raise awareness

South Haven Schools staged walk-in to raise awareness

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20254 min read

By James Windell South Haven Schools joined thousands of other schools in Michigan and around the nation in sponsoring a School Walk-In on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.A protest initiated by the National Education Association, the Walk-In was intended to make…

Garage and car destroyed in Paw Paw blaze

Garage and car destroyed in Paw Paw blaze

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

The Paw Paw Fire Department responded Monday afternoon, March 24, to a garage and car fire at 48255 45th St., Paw Paw. A total of 23 fire department members responded to the fire which was reported at approximately 3:06 p.m.…

State VFW members travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators

State VFW members travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

Kevin Conklin, a member of the Decatur VFW, and Veterans of Foreign Wars National Council member representing the State of Michigan, traveled to Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 through March 6 to meet with legislators concerning veterans’ issues and benefits. Conklin…

Hartford area woman in custody following fatal shooting

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20251 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com HARTFORD – A 41-year-old Hartford area man is dead following an early Monday morning, March 24, shooting in Hartford, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott…

Second trial to begin in 2007 Lawrence murder case

Editorial StaffMar 26, 20252 min read

A Lawrence woman convicted of murdering her husband will soon begin the process of having a second murder trial.On Tuesday a jury trial was set to commence years after the January 2007 murder case of Todd Stermer.According to investigators, Todd…

Sturgis Civic Players set for opening of ’Little Women’ 

Sturgis Civic Players set for opening of ’Little Women’ 

Dennis VolkertMar 25, 20254 min read

By Dennis Volkert “Little Women,” by Sturgis Civic Players, is presented at 7 p.m. March 28-29 and 2 p.m. March 30 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.  “Little Women” is based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel, following the lives of four sisters,…

Bonding narrowly approved for county courthouse renovation project

Bonding narrowly approved for county courthouse renovation project

Robert TomlinsonMar 21, 202510 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Despite opposition from numerous citizen attendees and some commissioners, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday narrowly approved bonding up to $6 million to cover a portion of the cost of a renovation…