News

By Gari Voss The sun shone brightly and the temperature rose to a wonderful 40+ degrees on Saturday, February 14, 2026, as Littlejohn Lake near Allegan hosted young and older enthusiasts of outdoor activities. On the lake, the Outdoor Discovery…

School kids took advantage of Monday’s Presidents’ Day holiday break to enjoy South Haven’s ice rink albeit a bit sloppy due to temperatures in the 50s.City officials have announced the rink will close for the season on March 2nd to allow for…

By James Windell Scott Whiteford has spent years restoring the historic Hotel Nichols in downtown South Haven.After purchasing the 100-year-old hotel in 2017, he continued working his regular daytime job and then went directly to the hotel to work at…

By James Windell In the beginning it was the Bridge Sit taking place on the Dyckman Bridge.“The winds coming down the Black River were terrible,” recalls Erika Morrison, Executive Director of WE Care I.N.C. “Then Paul Layendecker suggested we move…

Jason Deibler-Love, owner of Warner Supply Hardware, 136 E. Michigan Ave., Paw Paw, announced on Monday that the hardware business has been sold to Jerry and Rachel Mandigo, of Paw Paw. Deibler-Love, who will retain ownership of the buildings, had…

PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Fire Department was dispatched to the 1000 block of S. LaGrave Street, here, at approximately 7:50 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, for a report of a mobile home on fire with animals inside, according…

MATTAWAN – Mattawan Consolidated School has requested a federal court to dismiss the lawsuit filed by a former bus driver last year.A 34-page response was recently drafted in response to a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination after the driver, Sarah Robinson, was…

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Township Board, at the beginning of its meeting Feb. 9, held a moment of silence for former Paw Paw Planning Commission member Randall Peat, who died earlier that day.Paw Paw…

Water touches every part of a community’s daily life — from the water that comes out of the tap to the rivers and parks that shape how people experience their town. In Albion, where neighborhoods, industry, and recreation all developed…

By Sylvia Benavidez The City of Marshall Police Department has taught the all-day PPCT Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention course as well as shorter versions of the format for the last three years, and still the free course remains in…

By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer A Jackson family lost two young children in a Sunday morning fire. Both parents were also injured, with their father suffering severe burns. A family member has set up a GoFundME account and as of…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LOCKPORT TWP. — One month removed from unanimously voting to get rid of its solar ordinance, there are now calls in Lockport Township for considering a revised and revamped version of it.At their meeting Monday, the…

LOCKPORT TWP. — A Three Rivers woman died in a camper fire that occurred Saturday.According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, the fire occurred in the 57000 block of Mitchell Road, located next to the Three Rivers Dr. Haines…

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Jan. 28 considered options for replacement of the roof at Doyle Community Center, and will assess funding options for the project.At the commission’s meeting, Daniel Root, manager of facilities, outlined two proposals, and…

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 10 was presented with bid details for several renovation projects that are in the planning phase. Here is a roundup of targeted projects, with bid detail. Three bids were submitted…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Chili lovers from around the area and beyond came to downtown Three Rivers Saturday to try a wide variety of chilis during the 2026 Three Rivers Chili Cook-off.Ten participating businesses in the downtown…

By Christopher Johnson On February 5th of this month, Farwell’s Birchwood Restaurant caught fire from what investigators determined to be electrical wiring issues. According to the Surrey Fire Department, it started in the kitchen area and billowed smoke throughout the…

By Christopher Johnson Farwell Area Schools officials are continuing an investigation into a reported gun threat that circulated among students earlier this winter, prompting concern from families. It has also renewed discussion about communication and safety procedures within the district.This…

By Scott SullivanEditorBuying LakeVista Supervalu, the Saugatuck-Douglas area’s only full-service grocery store, seemed like Kismet for Pete Heinz and Darlene Bond.“We’d been dating for about a year and loved visiting here,” Darlene recalls. “On July 23, 2003 — my 40th…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A beloved teacher, coach and community member was honored on Tuesday, Feb. 3, as Plainwell Community Schools formally dedicated the gymnasium at Plainwell Middle School in memory of Ryan Meert.Surrounded by family, friends, former students, colleagues…