News
Otsego residents, your water rates are going up
By Aaron MitchellOtsego City Manager Telling customers that their water rates are going to increase is never a popular thing to do in a small town. Many will pull out their torches and pitchforks and head down to City Hall.However,…
Child support clinic offered for county residents
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Individuals in Allegan County who are behind on child support payments or have a bench warrant related to arrearages will have an opportunity later this month to seek help without fear of arrest.Christian Neighbors and the…
Stolen taxidermy bear found, still no suspects
A six-foot taxidermy bear that was stolen off of an Allegan County (Fennville) porch last month has been found, Michigan State Police (MSP) announced Monday. Wearing a fake sheriff’s badge, a holstered toy gun, necklace and ring, troopers said the…
Full speed ahead for low-cost new housing on Lowe Street
By Gari Voss A full compliment of Allegan City Council Members gathered on Monday, February 9, 2026, to address the business of the municipality. Much of the meeting was spent learning more about the financing process for the anticipated construction…
Boss convicted of murder after hitting 8-month-old baby with his truck
A 56-year-old man will learn his sentence next month after pleading no contest to second-degree murder of an 8-month-old baby, after hitting and killing her with his truck.Terry Lee Boss had two charges dropped following his no contest plea on…
Take precautions to avoid a trip to the ER – stay off ice
By James Windell The extreme winter conditions we have experienced in South Haven this winter has made walking outside dicey – to say the least.However, with popular beaches in South Haven ice shelves have formed which attract people to take…
Former Mattawan School bus driver sues school district
MATTAWAN – A former Mattawan school bus driver is suing the Mattawan Consolidated School District, alleging that she was wrongfully terminated after passing out holiday candy bags to students on her school bus, some of which contained religious messages.A 12-page complaint was filed…
Paw Paw Village Council approves Culver’s site plan
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Village Planning Commission met Thursday, Feb. 5, for two public hearings – a site plan review for Culver’s restaurant, which has proposed building on County Road 665, near the Shell…
Doroh elected BOC chairman
Kurt Doroh, left, was recently elected the new Van Buren County Commissioner chairman, while Paul Schincariol, was elected vice chair.
Chief of Police gives praise to his officers following area’s recent harsh weather conditions
By Paul GarrodStaff writernew4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – In a memo to the Paw Paw Village Council at its Monday night Feb. 9 village council meeting, Paw Paw Chief of Police Eric Rottman conveyed to the council “the excellent work your…
Protestors show support of Steve Tucker at Super Bowl 60 at Michigan Theater
By Elizabeth FersztContributing Writer Protestors braved the freezing temperatures with hand-made signs to show their supportfor Steve Tucker, former executive director of the Michigan Theater of Jackson, Sunday, Feb. 8,from 5:30-6:30 p.m., as the theater was hosting a free Super…
Woman dies in Lockport Twp. fire
LOCKPORT TWP. — A Three Rivers woman died in a camper fire that occurred Saturday. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, the fire occurred in the 57000 block of Mitchell Road, located next to the Three Rivers Dr.…
Volunteers brave extreme cold for Albion’s annual Point-in-Time Count
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Volunteers gathered at a building on Austin Avenue in Albion Thursday night, Jan. 29 to take part in the annual Point in Time Count — a nationwide effort to count individuals and families experiencing homelessness…
Steve Tucker fired from Michigan Theatre
By KATHRYN PALON and ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writers The long-time executive director of the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Steve Tucker, was abruptly fired by the Board of Directors late last month and former Board Chair Nan Whitmore has been named…
Albion resubmits $1.1 million grant to rehabilitate downtown apartments
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion City Council approved the resubmission of a $1.1 million Community Development Block Grant application during its Feb. 2 meeting, advancing plans to rehabilitate 10 downtown apartment units across four properties, with the majority reserved…
Showing Up When It Matters: Albion Takes Care of Business on Feb. 2
More residents than usual attended Albion’s Feb. 2 study session and regular meeting at City Hall. As people arrived, they picked up printed agendas from the podium at the front of the room and settled in for an evening focused…
Massage establishment’s permit approved amid TR mayor’s calls for review of ordinance, city code
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Amid a call for what Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston called a “line-by-line review” of the city’s code and a call to revise or get rid of language in the city’s massage establishment…
Ambitious projects envisioned if Sturgis school bond is approved
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools eyes numerous major projects, if a bond election proposal is approved by voters in May. On Jan. 12, the board of education approved the bond election resolution. The initiative is scheduled to appear on…
Sturgis man charged with six counts for alleged abuse of adopted daughter
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A Sturgis man was formally arraigned and charged Monday for the alleged sexual abuse of his adopted daughter over nearly a decade.According to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis, 57-year-old Raymond Bontrager was charged…
Clare health park scandal recovers 4.8 million dollars
By Christopher Johnson A onetime aide to a former Michigan Speaker of the House was charged last year with multiple felonies following a lengthy investigation into a stalled health park project north of Clare. Which was an investigation that ultimately…
