News
The 26th Annual Island Sit raises money for community
By James Windell For the 26th year, We Care’s Island Sit fundraiser in South Haven accepted donations from the public to help those in need.Executive Director of We Care I.N.C., Erika Morrison, was pleased with the response of both the…
SHAWSA gets wastewater system improvements update
By James Windell The South Haven Area Water & Sewer Authority received a progress report about the wastewater expansion feasibility study at its regular meeting on February 26, 2025.Presented by the firm of Fleis & Vanderbrink, a civil engineering firm…
Commissioners approve to borrow $7.5 million for DTRF
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 25, authorized the county treasurer to borrow up to $7.5 million for the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund to ensure timely reimbursement to taxing authorities.The…
Max Gilbert to ski in Special Olympics
LAWTON – Max Gilbert began volunteering at White Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, Lawton, in October 2024. In addition to volunteering at White Oaks, Gilbert finds time to at-tend Van Buren Intermediate School District, (VBSISD) powerlifting and running six…
4-H auction and breakfast nets nearly $4k in donations
The recently held Van Buren County 4-H Leaders’ Association Auction and Breakfast was well attended by 90 guests, and 40 4-H youth. The breakfast brought in $680. The in-person auction, by Shane Harris, Harris Auction Services, Cassopolis, brought in $1,302,…
Can you identify this Vehicle?
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Sheriff’s deputies are asking for help from the public to identify the suspect in a hit and run crash that occurred in the 32000 block of County Road 669 in Porter Township.…
Draft Safe Streets for All plan for St. Joseph County available to review
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A comprehensive action plan for improving roads in St. Joseph County for the future was unveiled for the first time last week. On Friday, the St. Joseph County Road Commission revealed the first draft…
ABC’s ‘20/20’ to highlight how DNA, forensic genealogy helped solve Swartz murder
Updated 11:41 p.m. March 4, 2025 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A Three Rivers cold case that was solved a couple of years ago will be highlighted as part of an upcoming episode of the ABC newsmagazine “20/20.”…
Breaking The Ice
The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual IceBreaker fundraising event Saturday, Feb. 22 at the recreation hall of Armstrong International in Three Rivers. The event featured a silent auction, live auctions, and a taco bar that was…
TR Library to retain law firm for Fabius contract negotiations One month remains until current contract expiration
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — With just 31 days to go before their current library services contract with Fabius Township officially expires, the Three Rivers Public Library will be getting legal representation to help negotiate a new contract…
Sturgis schools ‘re-imagining’ process gets underway with consulting firm
At its meeting Feb. 17, Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education approved a partnership with consulting firm Wightman to “re-imagine” physical spaces throughout the district. An initial meeting with representatives from Wightman was set for Feb. 27, to begin the planning process. Wightman…
City Commission approves sidewalk assessment, street-vacation request Board also receives details regarding public safety department projects
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday held public hearings to consider approval of special assessment rolls related to an East Jerolene Street sidewalk project, and for a second resolution to vacate a portion of North Fourth Street. For the…
Egg prices continue to soar
By Rachael Humphrey The budget friendly breakfast staple continues to rise in price. According to the latest consumer price index (CPI) the national average for a dozen eggs is $4.95. Compared to the average low of $2.04 in 2023 that…
Wind Symphony prepares for winter show
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Wind Symphony presents its winter concert at 3 p.m. March 2 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.Theme for the show is “Musicals Galore.” Fittingly, selections come from popular musicals, with one exception.Anticipated set list:
Irish Festival How it all began
By Rachael Humphrey This year Clare Area Chamber of Commerce anticipates a big celebration for St. Patrick’s Day, as it marks 50 years since the celebration began.The earliest mentions of the celebrations began on March 10th, 1975 when it was…
Beard nominee hews to local roots
By Scott SullivanEditorFrom Chicago to Me., Chicago to Me. to here. So’s the road gone for Missy Corey, who, with help from Pennyroyal Café and Provisions partner Ryan Beck, has won a James Beard Award semifinalist designation.While growing up in…
Cook Park willow gone, still gives
By Scott SullivanEditorThere will be no tying yellow ribbons around Cook Park’s old willow tree now that all but its stump is gone.Saugatuck Department of Public Works Supervisor Scott Herbert told city council Monday leveling of the 150-year-old icon, partially…
All three OHS choirs qualify for State Choral Festival
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor All three Otsego High School choirs—Chamber Singers, Bella Voce and Concert Choir—participated in a district choral festival on Wednesday, Feb. 19.And for the first time in at least four years, all three received 1 ratings, which…
Otsego Library eligible for donation match from ACCF
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan County Community Foundation’s Third Annual Day of Giving—known as Allegan County Gives—is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19.And the Otsego District Library is one of the organizations that stands to benefit from the generosity of…
Five area churches donate disaster relief supplies
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Members of the Hopkins, Martin, Shelbyville, Allegan, and Wayland United Methodist Churches gathered together on Sunday, February 23rd to assemble buckets of supplies for the UMCOR disaster relief program.The UMCOR program aims to enable those affected…
