News

Victim identified in suspicious Lockport Twp. death

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 2 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LOCKPORT TWP. — A person found unresponsive in Lockport Township last week has now been identified by authorities.St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Zachary Zuk said in a release Tuesday that the victim found unresponsive…

Cemetery Tours 2025A Meet and Greet with “town ancestors”

Cemetery Tours 2025A Meet and Greet with “town ancestors”

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 3 min read

By Rosemary Currier Did you ever look around downtown Sturgis and wonder what it used to be like? Who the people were who made this a great town? What were their stories?Oak Lawn Cemetery Tour 2025 is for those who…

STURGIS NEWS BRIEFS

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 1 min read

City’s redesigned website is liveA redesigned website for the city of Sturgis is now live. Officials plan to provide additional details regarding specific website features, and additional changes, city manager Andrew Kuk said. Website address remains the same, www.sturgismi.gov.The site’s previous significant overhaul…

Back to School 2025!

Back to School 2025!

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 1 min read
CROWNED: Two girls from Clare return to a royal welcome

CROWNED: Two girls from Clare return to a royal welcome

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 7 min read

By Christopher Johnson If there are two people in Clare who need little introduction right now, it’s Eliy Simmer and Sabrina Chinavare. Both returned recently from Port Huron, where the Miss Michigan and Miss Michigan Teen USA pageants were held.…

Cops & Doughnuts voted tenth most beloved business in the U.S.

Cops & Doughnuts voted tenth most beloved business in the U.S.

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 6 min read

By Christopher Johnson This month, Cops & Doughnuts earned a spot at number ten in MarketBeat’s survey of the “Top 220 Most Beloved Local Businesses Across the U.S.” The ranking, drawn from a poll of 3,004 businesses—many of them iconic…

Mass resignations hit Redding Township Board

Mass resignations hit Redding Township Board

Editorial Staff Aug 22, 2025 3 min read

By Genine Hopkins Redding Township’s Board of Trustees has experienced numerous hurdles since just before the recall election several years ago, something that has continued and at times, gotten worse, since that recall purged many members. At the regular Redding…

Douglas explores housing on ex- Miro site

Douglas explores housing on ex- Miro site

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorDouglas City Council Monday approved a nonbinding 6-month memorandum of understanding with Mosaic Development to create attainable housing on 17 acres at 6825 Wiley Road once home of the Miro Golf Course.The parcel is zoned R-5 Multi-Family Residential…

Council sets sale restrictions on city hall

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe historic Douglas City Hall at 86 W. Center St. is back on the market with new restrictive covenant stipulations after an investment group backed down from its sales agreement July 21.City council, concerned about the 1875-built former…

Nearly 700 children take part in Ransom summer program

Nearly 700 children take part in Ransom summer program

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Ransom District Library assistant director Erin Marsh knows how busy the summer months are for children and their families.That’s why she was beyond excited that nearly 700 children signed up to participate in this year’s Summer…

Otsego Library summer program sees record participation

Otsego Library summer program sees record participation

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 2 min read

The Otsego District Library’s Summer Reading Program was deemed a huge success by ODL assistant director/program coordinator Diane DeVries.“Patrons embraced the theme–Color Our World—which showcased the creativity and artistic spirit of the Otsego community,” DeVries said. “All summer long, the…

Local teen ready for Allegan County Fair Rodeo

Local teen ready for Allegan County Fair Rodeo

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 3 min read

By Gari Voss The Flying Star Rodeo will be at the Grandstand of the Allegan County Fair on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, beginning at 7pm. Waiting for his time to enter the bull riding chute will be Ashton Prolo, a…

South Haven salutes veterans with flotilla, band, large crowd

South Haven salutes veterans with flotilla, band, large crowd

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 1 min read

by Jim Windell, The South Haven fishing community took Veterans out on Lake Michigan for the morning. Returning with their catch, they were greeted at noon by a flotilla of boats led by the SHAES fireboat. A large American flag floated…

Community Recreation Director hired for South Haven

Community Recreation Director hired for South Haven

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Although the South Haven City Council approved hiring a Community Recreation Director, it wasn’t until June, 2025 that the council approved making it a fulltime position with benefits.Scott Reinert, South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) Administrator, thought…

South Haven Planning Commission approves Master Plan

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell When the South Haven City Hall City Council Chambers are packed for a Planning Commission meeting, you can assume two things: One, this will not be a brief meeting; two, there will be controversy.This was the case…

National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out attracts many to Paw Paw

National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out attracts many to Paw Paw

Editorial Staff Aug 20, 2025 4 min read

“It was a good turnout for National Night Out/Public Safety Professional Night Out in South Haven and Paw Paw. A huge thank you to the community for coming out and all the continued support, it’s appreciated more than you know,”…

Village Market Food Centers to be acquired by Harding’s Friendly Markets

Village Market Food Centers to be acquired by Harding’s Friendly Markets

Jordan Wilcox Aug 19, 2025 3 min read

All four will soon be sold to Harding’s Friendly Markets. Photos from Google Maps. By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In late June, major news broke when SpartanNash announced their sale to a New Hampshire grocery conglomerate. As a Byron Center-based wholesaler…

Victim identified in suspicious Lockport Twp. death

Robert Tomlinson Aug 19, 2025 2 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LOCKPORT TWP. — A person found unresponsive in Lockport Township last week has now been identified by authorities. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Zachary Zuk said in a release Tuesday that the victim found…

County Transportation Authority driver killed in crash

Robert Tomlinson Aug 16, 2025 2 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director MENDON TWP. — A driver for the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority (CTA) was killed in a crash that occurred Friday in Mendon Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.