News
Light agenda at city council meeting includes further discussion on EDC budget
At Monday’s meeting, Albion City Council again tabled the discussion on the request of the Albion Economic Development Corporation to transfer $150,000 from the TIFA (tax increment finance authority) fund into the EDC budget. The reason for this request is…
Community Table of Albion helps fight food insecurity
The Community Table of Albion had their last food pantry distribution of 2024 on Friday, Dec. 20. Operated by the Albion Health Care Alliance, CTA is the largest food distribution program in Eastern Calhoun County. In 2024 CTA held 35…
‘Get Fit Challenge’ gets underway this weekend It’s the 20th year for Doyle’s fitness and weight-loss contest
By Dennis Volkert “Get Fit Challenge” opens Jan. 11 at Doyle Community Center in Sturgis, and continues through March 22.Time frame for registration and initial weigh-in is 8 a.m.-noon Jan. 11 at Doyle.Prizes are awarded for overall first- and second-place…
Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area
RECURRINGChildren’s story time, 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Friday, Sturgis District Library.Sturgis Area Model Railroaders winter hours at Sturgis Historical Museum, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. JANUARYJan. 10Jon Reep, 7:30 p.m., Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, part of…
Clare City grant app for Dam project moving forward
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent In his report to the City Commission Monday, City Manager Jeremy Howard reported that the dredging project at Lake Shamrock is still continuing “on a limited and weather permitted basis.”He explained, “We are continuing work at the…
CTE MILLAGE RENEWAL REQUEST SET FOR MAY 6
A decade ago, voters in Clare and Gladwin Counties approved a ten-year millage request that proved to be an enormous game-changer for high schoolers in those communities. Now, following unprecedented growth and student success, ClareGladwin CTE is asking voters to…
Laketown may flip to Mersman as manager
By Jim HaydenCorrespondentWith Al Meshkin retired as of Jan. 3, Laketown Township is without a manager. The board at a special meeting Dec. 30 put contract negotiations for a new one on hold until Jan. 8.In the absence of a…
Ransom Library announces acts for Winter Concerts
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The annual Winter Concert Series at Ransom Library has become a favorite for library staff members and patrons alike.This year’s event kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 16, with the band The Rebel Eves. MexiCuba and Kanola…
Chocolate Stroll scheduled in downtown Plainwell
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor February is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolate.That’s what makes the Chocolate Stroll in downtown Plainwell such a fitting event.Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the…
New Year’s Eve brought thousands for Ball Drop
By Gari Voss The air was crisp, and the precipitation magically stopped for the 8pm opening of New Year’s Eve 2025. Revelers began arriving early in anticipation of good food, music, and ice skating. Yup, the ice skating rink had…
Allegan County Sheriff’s Office K9s receive body armor
By Sgt. Blair Kacos & G. Voss The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office announced the donation of body armor for two of Allegan County’s finest – K9s Zadok and Kyro.“Kyro and Zadok will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to…
Reports of Piggly Wiggly in Lanett closing rankle community
By John BriceCorrespondent Multiple Facebook posts this past week from employees at Piggly Wiggly in Lanett reporting that the supermarket will be closing at the end of January caused an outpouring of grief and frustration among local residents.One employee at…
Sixty arrested on 145 charges by Drug Task Force
Sixty arrested on 145 chargesFrom 10/1/2024 – 12/31/2024 Agents of the Chambers County Drug Task Force/ Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force, Chambers County Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team, Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Valley Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, and the Lanett Police…
Area man seeks help, becomes lost, suffers hypothermia, following traffic crash
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PORTER TWP. – A 64-year-old Lawton man, involved in a traffic crash Friday night, Jan. 3, in Porter Township, left the scene of the crash on foot, sought out help, then became lost while walking in…
Almena Twp house fire contained by multiple departments
On Dec. 30, shortly before noon, the Paw Paw Fire Department responded to a structure fire in Almena Township on County Road 653. Paw Paw Fire Chief Kyle Richardson said the fire began in the attached garage, then quickly began…
Mishap causes New Year’s ball drop to occur two hours early
By Tom Renner Figuratively speaking, the new year arrived two hours early in South Haven last Tuesday night.A South Haven tradition in recent years has been that at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1,000 beach balls that…
Area village and cities have experienced devastating fires only to rise again
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com Several towns in The Courier-Leader coverage area have experienced downtown fires of one type or another during the past nearly 170 years. The fires destroyed or badly damaged businesses, but following the devastation, the communities rallied,…
City Council approves Overton Development
By James Windell The South Haven City Council approved a proposal for redevelopment of the Overton Property at 229 Elkenburg Street, South Haven.Although plans for developing the property have been mired in controversy because of contamination, the City Council on…
Family takes a frigid dip for Recovery Institute
By Tom Renner There’s nothing more refreshing than taking a dip in Lake Michigan.But in January? When the water temp is 41 degrees and the air 23?For Patrick Kaufmann and his three daughters it was well worth it as they…
Water main breaks in TR near water tower, to be fixed by end of week
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A water main break in Three Rivers near the city’s water tower is expected to be fixed by the end of the week. According to Three Rivers Department of Public Services Director Amy…
