News

By Dennis VolkertEarlier this week, 500 Grand Studios broadcast a YouTube podcast interview with Sturgis Mayer Frank Perez.www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wU12Lvgrsw&t=2sIn it, Perez makes comments regarding an April 22 city commission motion to censure him and another to remove him as mayor.Each deadlocked…

By Dennis Volkert Tension surrounding mayor Frank Perez, Sturgis City Commission and uncertainty about the resignation of city manager Andrew Kuk continued on May 13, at a regular meeting of the board.  Aaron Miller, commissioner at-large, brought two separate resolutions,…

Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher One of Clare County’s largest annual events will return this weekend as thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Yoder farm for the spring edition of Yoder’s Quilt Auction and Flea Market.The two-day event, hosted…

By David Hutchinson The Regular Meeting was held in the Surrey Township Hall on May 12 at 6 p.m. All five board members were present—Dixie Adams, Mindy Campbell, Mike Coon, Glenna Bradbury, and Paul Ghinelli. Around 20 people attended.The board…

By Christopher Johnson The Farwell Fairgrounds, a beloved community institution since 1906, is gearing up for one of its biggest weekends of the year: Memorial Weekend 2026. A four-day carnival event, that will be running Thursday, May 21 through Sunday,…

Tension surrounding mayor Frank Perez, Sturgis City Commission and uncertainty about the resignation of city manager Andrew Kuk continued on May 13, at a regular meeting of the board.  Aaron Miller, commissioner at-large, brought two separate resolutions, each of which…

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck long has been primed for growth. Think blue skies reflecting on water, sun glinting off sand dunes and beaches, the two primary hues combining to feed green trees, inland orchards and money as consequence, good or bad.…

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council Monday, May 4 changed scheduled Water Street watermain valve work to dates and times less impactful to residents and businesses, with appropriate advance notice.Based on assessment by engineers, the contractor and staff, completing this work…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Plainwell Community Schools recently honored three staff members as recipients of the 2026 Outstanding People for Education Award, recognizing their impact on students and the district community.Receiving the honors were Caitlin Bunker, Julie Jackson and Noel…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Plainwell community will once again gather to honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to the country during the city’s annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 25.The parade is scheduled to…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Otsego Police Department recently welcomed a familiar face to its ranks.Officer Elisabeth Hoffman, an Otsego High School graduate, has joined the department after previously serving as a road patrol deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s…

Each year, the Outstanding People for Education Awards shine a spotlight on individuals who go above and beyond to make a meaningful difference in Allegan County’s public schools. From dedicated educators and support staff to committed volunteers and administrators, these…

By Joseph Schultz It was a large, angry, and fearful crowd that assembled for the Gun Plain Township Board Meeting on Thursday night. The crowd of residents were angry about the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that was being reviewed…

By Gari Voss May elections are often overlooked since not all precincts have millages on the ballot or official positions to fill. The May 5, 2026, Allegan County election involved only five proposals and six precincts. All proposals were important,…

Several fire departments responded to a dwelling fire in the City of South Haven last week.South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) was dispatched to a structure fire at 849 Phillips Street. Firefighters arrived to a house fully engulfed in flames.Mutual…

By James Windell Hardly anyone ever shows up for Planning Commission meetings. Dedicated commissioners generally go about their business with very little fanfare and a lot of tedious, professional work.That wasn’t the case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, when a…

Volunteers placed American flags on an estimated 1,200 graves of veterans buried at the City of South Haven Lakeview Cemetery as a prelude to the Memorial Day ceremony to be held on Monday, May 25. The estimated 30 volunteers represented…

The 75th anniversary of National Day of Prayer was marked Thursday, May 7, with the Greater Paw Paw Area National Day of Prayer Gathering at the County Park in downtown Paw Paw. Several prayers were lifted by area residents, focusing…

A 66-year-old man died on Saturday, May 9, after he was hit by a train in Decatur, according to the Decatur Police Department.The Decatur Police Department reported an Amtrak passenger train hit the man at approximately 10:45 a.m., after he…

First through fifth grade students at Trinity Lutheran School, Paw Paw, shared a special evening on May 11, in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration.Under the guidance of teacher, Kelly Docsa, first and second grade students displayed individual dioramas…