News
Van Buren District Library, several townships, discuss decades old contract governing branch libraries
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com DECATUR – Following a nearly three-hour meeting, that included a nearly 55-minuite closed session by the Van Buren District Library Board, Tuesday, Feb. 24, The Van Buren District Library Board plans to update a decades-old contract…
Brave citizens rescue two from fire
By Gari Voss Ricky Holly and Emily Steward came upon a burning home on CR 653 in Pine Grove Township before 9am on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The pair quickly went into action by calling 911 to contact the Gobles…
Senior Home Meal delivery changes
By Gari Voss The Allegan County Board of Commissioners approved the continuation of the Home Delivery Meals to eligible seniors. In a conversation with Dan Wedge, the Deputy County Administrator of Services, he wanted to emphasize that the program, which…
Historic Allegan Church closes doors
By Gari Voss The decision is final. The First Presbyterian Church on Cutler Street in Allegan has been closed by the Presbytery of Lake Michigan in Portage. The final service was Sunday, March 1, 2026, and members of the congregations…
Two killed, one injured after pickup strikes tree
PARK TWP. — Two people were killed while another was airlifted when a vehicle crashed into a tree in Park Township Saturday. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called just after midnight Saturday to the intersection…
Jackson teen dies in wrong-way crash on US-127
By Elizabeth Ferszt And Kathryn Palon Contributing Writers A Jackson teenager was killed in a wrong-way crash on US-127 last Thursday. The teenager, identified as 16-year-old Rickie Pickens, was a passenger in the car traveling the wrong way. Pickens was…
Man pleads no-contest to murder of child
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer A 43-year-old Jackson County man, Donald Flack, pled no contest to second degree murder charges in connection to the death of a 15-month-old Jackson County child in 2022. According to a press release from Prosecuting…
Jackson Collaborative Network presentation gives demographic data about Jackson County
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Sheri Butters, manager of the Jackson Collaborative Network, gave a presentation at the Feb. 24 Jackson City Council meeting that highlighted some sobering data about the demographics, health, and wealth of both the city and…
Albion Invites Public Input on Roads, Redevelopment, and City Planning
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Albion residents will have several opportunities in the coming week to learn more about planned road work, infrastructure projects, and redevelopment proposals, and to share questions and input with city leadership. The first opportunity will…
Stronger Together: Black Work, Business, and Belonging in Albion
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Albion’s Black history is often told through landmark events and institutions, but it is also a story shaped by work — by the jobs people came north for, the industries that sustained families, and the…
Albion Art Center Current Multi-cultural Display runs to March 13; so much more than a labor of love
by Sylvia Benavidez The Albion Art Center is rapidly becoming a place where Albion’s cultural influences and history are preserved, celebrated, taught, and displayed. Mary Slater, president of the Albion Arts Commission, shared in an interview how community teamwork is…
Age and Practice: On the craft of learning to grow old
By Ken Wyatt “Acceptance of one’s life has nothing to do with resignation; it does not mean running away from the struggle. On the contrary, it means accepting it as it comes, with all the handicaps of heredity, of suffering,…
Benefit dinner to support Constantine grad with severe epilepsy, traumatic brain injury after alleged assault
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE — As a senior, Gregg Reed was a key cog of the Constantine wrestling team that made the state semifinals back in the 2023-24 season, winning a match in the state semifinals at 190 lbs.…
Three Rivers planning preventative sewer maintenance in 2nd District
THREE RIVERS — The City of Three Rivers announced Wednesday there would be preventative maintenance being performed on sewer mains in the second district of the city.The maintenance is expected to begin Monday and be completed by Thursday, April 2…
Woman in stable condition after overdose
FLOWERFIELD TWP. — St. Joseph County sheriff’s deputies say a woman is in stable condition following a reported overdose late last week.According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched on Feb. 20 to the 15000 block of…
Sturgis Wind Symphony show features a personal touch
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Wind Symphony presents “Play List” at 3 p.m. March 1 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Admission is free. The theme focuses on musical numbers suggested by ensemble members, director Jim Whitehead said. “I asked the players to…
SNP launches new‘Neighbor2Neighbor’ program
Sturgis Neighborhood Program has announced the launch of its new Neighbor2Neighbor home improvement program, with help of a grant from Michigan State Housing Development Authority.The initiative is intended to provide crucial home repair and rehabilitation services to up to three…
Sturgis man killed in head-on vehicle crash
NOTTAWA TWP. — A 68-year-old Sturgis man was killed in a crash in Nottawa Township Wednesday night.According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area of M-86 and Findley Road for a reported crash.Deputies claim a…
County schools ahead of statewide cell phone ban
By Genine Hopkins The new smartphone ban that was signed into law by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer this month that will officially take effect in the 2026-2027 school year attempts to address distracted students in classrooms that can diminish the…
