News

August ballot filled with local, state proposals

Editorial StaffJun 7, 20245 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Three Democrats and Five Republicans are hoping their name will be the pick on the ballot in November for US Senator.Democrats looking for voters to pick their name to be on the slot for a six-year term…

Farwell, Clare schools to help proposals on August ballot

Editorial StaffJun 7, 20243 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Two Public School Districts in Clare County will also each have a proposal on the August 6th Primary Ballot.The first will renew Farwell Area Schools Sinking Fund.This proposal renews .4945 mill of building and site sinking fund…

Fair season gets underway June 10th at the Marion Fair

Fair season gets underway June 10th at the Marion Fair

Editorial StaffJun 7, 20242 min read

By Steve LandonCorrespondent It’s summertime 2024 which means it is time for Marion, MI to officially kick off the fair season  June 9 – 15 with the opening of the Annual Marion Fair at the historic Marion Fairgrounds/Veterans Memorial Park.The popular six-day…

Village votes to re-pave stretch of sidewalk on Main Street

Village votes to re-pave stretch of sidewalk on Main Street

Editorial StaffJun 7, 20242 min read

By Genine Hopkins If you’ve ever taken a walk East on W. Main Street in Marion, from just a couple of blocks West of Mill Street and across from the Marion United Methodist Church, perhaps you took a stumble or…

Marion VFW Auxiliary to host craft show June 12-15 at fairgrounds

Marion VFW Auxiliary to host craft show June 12-15 at fairgrounds

Editorial StaffJun 7, 20242 min read

By Genine Hopkins The VFW Auxiliary will be putting on their Craft Show during the Marion Fair, from June 12 through June 15, at the Fairgrounds this year. The group is excited to hold their third such craft show, that…

Flower Expo Retraction

Editorial StaffJun 6, 20241 min read

by Donald Talonen The Flower Expo will not be held at the Allegan County Fairgrounds on August 7 and 8 as previously reported. The request to change the city ordinance to allow for the event to take place was passed…

Of Community Pride & a cardboard reign

Of Community Pride & a cardboard reign

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Community Pride goeth —or wenteth — before a rainfall Saturday. The sun shone on earlier events — drag bowling Thursday, speaker sessions at the Kirby Hotel and Saugatuck-Douglas District Library and Friday’s Jazz for Justice concert…

City has less parking for safety’s sake

City has less parking for safety’s sake

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20244 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR In a city where parking is an issue, Saugatuck now has less. Council May 29 voted 5-2 to ban parking on one side of eight narrow stretches of street and both sides of Pleasant Street. The…

Life ambulance now provider here

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR’’’ Life EMS has replaced AMR as main ambulance provider for northern Saugatuck Township plus Saugatuck and Douglas cities. The Grand Rapids-based firm, owned and founded by Meijer Inc. heir Mark Meijer, provides first-response EMT services from…

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo On June 2, Ratcliffe Field was filled with families, friends and a flurry of caps and gowns. Around 100 degrees were set to be conferred that afternoon, and as the stands filled up, the graduates took their…

South Haven top graduates look to the future

South Haven top graduates look to the future

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo With their time in school behind them, the top students in South Haven High School’s graduating class are excited for the new opportunities their futures will bring.Topping the class this year were Kayley Gorham and Kelsey Hodgman,…

City Council furthers zoning ordinance, establishes moratorium

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo At the first South Haven City Council meeting of June, the council handled a number of matters, new and old. They furthered the zoning ordinance regarding short-term rentals, pushing it along to the city’s Planning Commission, in…

Spat’s away, kids will play

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

Houston, Saugatuck had a procedural problem expanding its new playground to incorporate unforeseen ADA add-ons. Tree City trees were felled unannounced to some Village Square Park neighbors, prompting a court-decreed stop-work order that required the city to square matters with…

Life is new emergency transport here

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorLife EMS has replaced AMR as main ambulance provider for northern Saugatuck Township plus Saugatuck and Douglas cities.The Grand Rapids-based firm, owned and founded by Meijer Inc. heir Mark Meijer, provides first-response EMT services from regional bases covering…

OPS sets Meet Up & Eat Up, Bookin’ Bus schedules

OPS sets Meet Up & Eat Up, Bookin’ Bus schedules

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Free meals and books aplenty.That’s what Otsego Public Schools will be offering to the community during the upcoming summer break.OPS recently announced the schedule for its Meet Up & Eat Up meal program and the Bulldogs…

PHS honors top academic members of Class of ‘24

PHS honors top academic members of Class of ‘24

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20246 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorElizabeth French certainly knew how to stay busy during her time at Plainwell High School.Athletically, French was part of the girls swim & dive team, earning Most Improved in recognition of her hard work and determination.Her other…

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The City of Allegan has partnered with…

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

The City of Allegan will host the annual Bridgefest celebration, a vibrant and fun-filled event taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024. From 11 AM to 10 PM, Downtown Allegan will come alive with a day packed with activities, entertainment,…

Alumni Classes 1970-2023 present scholarships to LHS, parks and rec

Alumni Classes 1970-2023 present scholarships to LHS, parks and rec

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

Representatives from the Class of ‘97, LHS host class for Homecoming 2023, presented on behalf of all 52 LHS alumni classes 1970 – 2023 two $500 scholarships and a total of $1600 in donations to various athletic entities at Lafayette…

49 arrested on 125 charges by Task Force

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20247 min read

From 2/7/2024 – 5/29/2024 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 Department conducted numerous operations,…