News

Luke Bryan turns Allegan cornfield into a party

Luke Bryan turns Allegan cornfield into a party

Jordan WilcoxSep 20, 20233 min read

Aerial Shot of John Schaendorf Dairy during the concert. Photo by Staufer Aerial, on Caleb Staufer’s Facebook page. The Vitale’s Crew unloading the pizzas. Photo from the Vitale’s of Allegan Facebook page. Luke Bryan at the concert. Photo from Lisa…

Laketown to lease house as nature center

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20233 min read

BY JIM HAYDEN CORRESPONDENT A new outdoor learning center is coming to a Laketown Township’s Wolters Woods Park. The township Building Authority earlier this month approved use of a recently-acquired house there for a nature school run by Holland Christian…

J. Garcia x2 make Mill Pond claims

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20232 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR No, Fennville’s Jennifer and Jessica Garcia, winners of this year’s $1,000 Mill Pond Realty “Follow Your Dreams” scholarships based on essays written, aren’t related. Asked, they first said they were cousins, paused for interview flow, then…

Kids combine on serve/walk-a-thon Sept. 29

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20232 min read

Friends of Saugatuck Middle School have announced their Serve-Thon will raise vital funds for student field trips, dances, a fun night, school programming, trip scholarships, teacher appreciation, more. In return, kids give back visits to: • Kids Food Bank in…

Rajzer honored for 50 years service to 4-H

Rajzer honored for 50 years service to 4-H

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

A longtime 4-H Van Buren County 4-H leader was recently honored for her many years of service.Beverly Rajzer was honored with a state Special Tribute by Senator Aric Nesbitt for her 50 years in the 4-H program.The tribute read in…

Colegios lead Mexican Independence parade through Hartford

Colegios lead Mexican Independence parade through Hartford

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

Longtime Hartford residents, Margarito (Mike) and Esther Colegio, now residing in Paw Paw, were Grand Marshals of last Saturday’s parade in downtown Hartford that celebrated Mexico’s Independence Day, Sept. 16. Mr. Colegio worked with migrant students in Texas during the…

Paw Paw firefighters recognize Quillen in Roscommon

Paw Paw firefighters recognize Quillen in Roscommon

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

Members of the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department traveled to Roscommon, Mich., where they took part on Sept. 16, in an annual State Tribute for fallen firemen, held by the Michigan State Firemen’s Association. This year, Paw Paw firefighter Lt.…

Exchanging of keys marks power plants continued operation

Exchanging of keys marks power plants continued operation

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

A Changing of the Keys of the Covert Generating Station was held Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 2600 77th St., Covert. The key exchange marks the continued operation of the former New Covert Generating Plant, now operated by Consumers Energy. The…

LHS homecoming is week long celebration

LHS homecoming is week long celebration

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20233 min read

Alumni at Wild N Wings Grand Marshal Mr. Fletcher Carr In Parade on Thursday Alumni picnic on Saturday Alumni Bowling Champions are Classes 81, 82, 83 and 88! Total score: 1181. Parade Parade By Pamela Whitlow The LaFayette High School…

DES Walk-a-thon back in town Oct. 6-7

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

Douglas Elementary School’s sixth annual PTO-sponsored Walk-a-Thon Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6 and 7, will raise funds for: Swim lessons for all second and third graders, The school’s healthy snack program, Field trips, Classroom books, Game day, holiday celebrations and…

Open house scheduled for Otsego Aquatic Center

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20233 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Nearly two years after Otsego Public Schools broke ground on its new aquatic center, the facility is nearing completion.And the district is inviting the public to a sneak peek during an open house from 4 to…

Creative Arts Festival slated for Saturday, Sept. 30

Creative Arts Festival slated for Saturday, Sept. 30

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20234 min read

A car show is once again one of the featured events at the Creative Arts Festival. (Photo provided) Caricature artists will be part of this year’s Creative Arts Festival. (Photo provided) By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The month of September is…

Despite Nelly reschedule, Fair breaks records

Despite Nelly reschedule, Fair breaks records

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20232 min read

This lady is caught reading while resting atop her prizes-winning fair animals in the livestock barn at the Allegan County Fair. Photo by Cindy Thiele. By Shawn Brennan The 171st Allegan County Fair kicked off on Friday, September 8, with…

Allegan County deputy injured in altercation with suspect

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20232 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent A deputy with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office was injured week while attempting to arrest a suspect, the department saidThe incident took place in Dorr Township shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday Sept. 11.  The deputy was responding to a complaint of a suspect driving back…

Three injured when vehicles collide head-on

Editorial StaffSep 20, 20231 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent Allegan Central Dispatch received reports of a two car injury accident at the intersection of 56th St and 116th Ave Fennville, MI Clyde Township last week.Upon arrival deputies determined a south bound vehicle had struck a north…

Board approves settlement agreement for Perez vs. Sturgis Public Schools

Board approves settlement agreement for Perez vs. Sturgis Public Schools

Dennis VolkertSep 19, 20232 min read

At a closed session Monday, Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education approved a settlement agreement in the case of Perez vs. Sturgis Public Schools, filed in 2018.  The case made its way to U.S. Supreme Court, then was re-directed to…

Guidelines established for ‘extreme weather center’ concept in Sturgis

Guidelines established for ‘extreme weather center’ concept in Sturgis

Dennis VolkertSep 17, 20232 min read

Sturgis City Commissioners have approved revision to codes and zoning ordinances to accommodate establishment of “extreme weather” centers. An extreme weather center, or EWC, is defined as a building that provides a location on a temporary basis for residents during…

What to know about the 2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair

What to know about the 2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair

Robert TomlinsonSep 16, 202311 min read

An archived photo from the 2019 St. Joseph County Grange Fair shows that year’s midway at night. The 2023 St. Joseph County Fair will run from Sept. 17-23. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — The biggest…

County sends letter to governor, requests Lillywhite’s removal as sheriff

County sends letter to governor, requests Lillywhite’s removal as sheriff

Robert TomlinsonSep 15, 20236 min read

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite stands in Kalamazoo County District Court in April after pleading guilty to operating while intoxicated charges. On Sept. 2, St. Joseph County commissioners officially sent a letter to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney…

Two former Lanett police officers indicted

Two former Lanett police officers indicted

Editorial StaffSep 14, 20232 min read

Former Lanett PD officers Bolt and Looser. C.J. Looser, a former Lieutenant with the Lanett Police Department Officer was indicted by the Chambers County Grand Jury for Assault 2 degree after he allegedly knocked out a man’s teeth while he…