News

Laketown looks to hire Fox manager

Laketown looks to hire Fox manager

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

By Jim Hayden Correspondent The Laketown Township board has agreed to enter into contract negotiations with Stephanie Fox to become the new township manager. At a special meeting Monday, members voted to begin talks pending an agreement on a compensation…

‘Christmas in July’ at Venetian Fest

‘Christmas in July’ at Venetian Fest

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 5 min read

“Christmas in July” will be theme for this weekend’s Venetian Festival on the Kalamazoo Lake and River waterfront.Fun starts this Friday night, July 25, with a dance party in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park, continues Saturday afternoon with a dinghy poker run…

KLSWA board fires manager, chair resigns

KLSWA board fires manager, chair resigns

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe Kalamazoo Lake Sewer & Water Authority board voted 3-1 at a special meeting Friday to terminate 14-year manager Daryl VanDyke.At their regular session three days later, members accepted the resignation of senior member Barry Johnson as chair,…

OPS’s McCaw receives national recognition

OPS’s McCaw receives national recognition

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Otsego Public Schools director of communications Holly McCaw was completely caught off guard.In Washington D.C. for the annual National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National Seminar beginning Monday, July 20, McCaw was presented with the Learning…

Ransom’s Summer Celebration set for Friday, Aug. 8

Ransom’s Summer Celebration set for Friday, Aug. 8

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Since Ransom District Library hosted its first Summer Celebration in 2021, the event has become an annual tradition.That tradition continues on Friday, Aug. 8, with Ransom hosting this year’s Summer Celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.As…

Plainwell council sets rates

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PLAINWELL — Plainwell City Manager Justin Lakamper, at a recent meeting, discussed water and wastewater rates for the new budget year.A motion passed to adopt Resolution 2025-11 Water and Wastewater Rates for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.City Consultant Kelley…

Gear Up for the 2025 Allegan County Fair

Gear Up for the 2025 Allegan County Fair

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

By Gari Voss The Allegan County Fair 2025 is rapidly approaching, and there is much to consider before the gates open on Friday, September 5th. The Grandstand entertainment is set, and tickets are available. Be sure to purchase entertainer tickets…

Fennville voters to vote on schools bond proposal Aug. 5

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 6 min read

By Gari Voss The residents of the Fennville School District will have an opportunity on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to pass a bond request that will reduce the school millage while making important improvements to all schools. This can occur…

Paw Paw youth is multi fair award winner

Paw Paw youth is multi fair award winner

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 1 min read

Wyatt Buskirk, 12, of Paw Paw, took several awards last week at the Van Buren Yoth Fair. The awards included, Grand Champion Dairy Heifer, Grand Champion Dairy Cow, Reserve Grand Champion Heavyweight Feeder, Reserve Grand Champion Crossbred Feeder, Grand Champion…

Dinghy poker run benefited humane society, SHHS

Dinghy poker run benefited humane society, SHHS

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 1 min read

South Haven’s Dinghy Poker Run was a soaking success as dozens of boaters plied the Black River on Saturday afternoon. Many were “armed” with water soakers engaging in frequent engagements with other boaters. Proceeds benefited the Al Van Humane Society and…

South Haven Planning Commission selects new chair

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

By James Windell For the first time in seven years, the South Haven Planning Commission has a new Chairman.Tim Stegemen, who has been the Planning Commission Chair since 2018, nominated Planning Commission member Bob Sherman as his replacement at the…

Three vye for Ward Two position

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

By James Windell South Haven’s Ward 2 will be selecting a new representative to the city council this fall.In Ward 2, the current city council members are Jeff Arnold and Wendy Onuki. Arnold is not up for re-election, however, Onuki…

Meet Kent Brindley: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Meet Kent Brindley: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

By James Windell Kent Brindley wants to bring both transparency and civil discourse to the South Haven City Council. But he also loves South Haven. And he believes he can help keep South Haven great.“I’m running for city council because…

Meet Tom Capps: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Meet Tom Capps: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Sitting on the patio behind Tom Capps’s house, he hesitates before responding to the question, “Why did you decide to run for City Council?”After deliberating he says: “I think I can have a calming effect on the…

Meet Todd Heinrich: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Meet Todd Heinrich: Ward 2 City Council Candidate

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Todd Heinrich says he’s been accused of being anti-tourism. But that ‘s not true he says.“I very much like tourism,” said in a recent interview. “I like to talk to tourists and find out where they’re from.…

Paw Paw Days to be held this weekend

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Area Chamber of Commerce will present its annual Paw Paw Days Classic Car & Truck Show, Arts & Crafts marketplace, Kids Zone, Touch-A-Truck, music, food, and more, Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26.The…

Good Trouble Rally draws over 300 to march and sing-along

Good Trouble Rally draws over 300 to march and sing-along

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 4 min read

By Ann Burch PAW PAW – Reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s era, folk music streamed from the Maple Lake Amphitheatre stage last Thursday evening, July 17, during the Good Trouble Lives On Rally in Paw Paw.Conducted by Fred Sang,…

Paw Paw man arrested for possession of child sexually abusive material

Paw Paw man arrested for possession of child sexually abusive material

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 2 min read

PAW PAW – Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that on July 9, at approximately 7 a.m., the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, assisted by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce,…

Hot Air Jubilee and U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championships take to Jackson skies

Hot Air Jubilee and U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championships take to Jackson skies

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 3 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer The annual Hot Air Jubilee balloon festival lands in Jackson at Ella Sharp Park on July 18-20. An added feature to this year’s event is the U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship, which began…

Horton man dies in single vehicle crash

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 1 min read

A 52-year-old Horton man died on Saturday, July 12 after hitting a tree head-on. MSP troopers were dispatched at approximately 7:10 a.m. to a residence in the 8200 block of Thorne Road in Liberty Township for a single vehicle crash.…

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.