News
City Council approves Community Recreation Director agreement
By James Windell After the South Haven Area Recreation Authority presented the South Haven City Council with an amended Community Recreation Director agreement, the City Council unanimously approved the agreement on Monday, April 21, 2025.Scott Reinert, SHARA Recreation Administrator director,…
Seventy walk to overcome poverty
With temperatures in the mid-60s, the 43rd annual Van Buren County CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk was held Sunday afternoon, April 27. Stepping off at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church, the walk made its way through Downtown…
Paw Paw winery demolishes building for expanded parking
The demolition of a former auto dealership, then converted to several small shops, took place last week in Paw Paw on Kalamazoo Street. The building, owned by St. Julian Winery, located adjacent to the site, was razed to make way…
Volunteers honored for longtime service
Retired Paw Paw business owners, Mike and Marlene Lake, who operated M & M Sweet Shop in downtown Paw Paw for 21 years, retiring in 1993, retired last week from their volunteer jobs at Lakeview Foundation Community Thrift Shop. Mike,…
Destination Paw Paw builds momentum at community recap event
PAW PAW – Destination Paw Paw, a division of the Van Buren County CVB, gathered community members and partners at St. Julian Winery, here, on April 24 to celebrate the early successes of its newly launched brand. Destination Paw Paw officially…
One arrested, another suspect sought in ongoing assault investigation; multiple firearms seized
SHERMAN TWP. — A suspect was arrested Sunday for an alleged assault in Sherman Township, with deputies searching for a second suspect. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the emergency room at Sturgis Hospital…
U.S. 12 resurfacing begins May 5 in Sturgis
STURGIS — A road resurfacing project in Sturgis begins next week, which will include detours and lane closures for some parts of a major thoroughfare in the city. On May 5, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers along with Lakeland…
Three Rivers spring trash collection to use dump passes, dumpsters instead of curbside pickup
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers residents will have a much different process for city-wide trash collection this spring. Three Rivers City Hall announced on their Facebook page Saturday, April 19, that there will be two options…
TRCS Water Quality Report finds majority of water sources safe; some need replacement
Report: 6.75 percent of district water fixtures detected excessive lead in both samples By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The vast majority of water sources in Three Rivers Community Schools meet state safety standards, according to a new report,…
TRCS cites ’20 percent’ enrollment decline for restructuring of elementaries
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A near 20-percent decline in enrollment over the last 10 years was one of the main factors Three Rivers Community Schools officials say led to the restructuring of some elementary school placements for…
Case ‘moving forward’ against mother accused of killing child; adjourned for 30 days
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — The case against a mother accused of killing her 2-year-old child appears to be progressing, however it might not be for at least another month or two for a trial.In a status hearing Monday…
Sturgis school board approves Eastwood lot project
By Dennis Volkert After extended discussion, Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved the proposal for paving and restructure of the Eastwood school parking lot and drives. The school district’s facility committee recommended a bid from Parrish Excavating of…
Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area
RECURRING Children’s story time, 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Friday, Sturgis District Library. Additional events at library available at www.sturgis-library.org/events.April 25Order deadline for spring seedling sale at St. Joseph County fairgrounds. Pick-up time frames: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 2 and 9…
Baskets Full of Joy: Clare’s Airport Enjoys Another Festive Success
By Christopher Johnson Hopefully everybody had a happy Easter this past weekend!This has been a great season for our county’s eggstravaganza events and the kids couldn’t appear more thrilled as our dip through April Valley peaks to a close. Seeing…
Pat Maurer honored by Clare City Council
By Genine Hopkins Spring is in the air and many exciting things are happening around the City of Clare, including receiving approval of a State of Michigan grant for work at the City Airport, resumption soon of the Shamrock Lake…
Police chase ends in capture of Chinese non-citizen
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 12:22 a.m., A Clare County Sheriff Deputy was on a traffic stop on Main St near Evergreen Trail in the Village of Farwell, Township of Surrey in Clare County. During this traffic stop, a…
Saugatuck UMC to close doors after 160 years
Saugatuck United Methodist Church will suspend operations at the end of this month after a final post-Easter service. The downtown Saugatuck church at 250 Mason St. has hosted served the community for 160 years. “I notified the district last November…
Blaze totals rural storage building
By Scott Sullivan Editor Saugatuck Township Fire District crews joined mutual aid partners from Ganges, Graafschap, Fennville and Hamilton knocking down this storage building and vehicle fire in the 2500 block of 63rd Street early Friday morning. Firefighters responding to…
Old home may soon sell shaved ice
By Scott Sullivan Editor Part of an 1873-built home at 453 W. Center St. across Ferry Street from the Old Root Beer Barrel may soon sell Italian shaved ice if its owner’s plans are realized. Douglas City Council Monday approved…
Douglas to sell 1870s church to Ox-Bow
By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Council agreed Monday to sell the 1870s-built wood-frame former church at 137 W. Center St. to the Ox-Bow School of Art for $430,000. Nonprofit Ox-Bow in 2022 began leasing the space, which had previously…
