News

4th of July celebrations, events all over area

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20244 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Farwell Figure 8 and moreFarwell has some big plans in the works for the holiday weekend this year.TNT will present a Figure 8 Derby, Bump & Run, Gut n’ Go and a front wheel drive Demo Derby…

Payment issues, lack of attendance scar Marion Fair

Payment issues, lack of attendance scar Marion Fair

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20245 min read

By Genine Hopkins After this year’s Marion Fair ended on Saturday, June 15, 2024, concerned citizens and some concerned Fair Board members brought up serious concerns about how the finances were handled for the fair. This included a cancellation of…

Monday storm knocks power out to more than a thousand homes

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20241 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent According to reports from Consumer’s, downed trees Monday caused a power outage for 1,266 customers in Clare, Gladwin and northern Isabella Counties, with the most outages (749) listed in Clare County and 198 in Isabella County. Gladwin…

Area July 4thcelebrations and events plentiful around Marion

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20243 min read

By Genine HopkinsArea communities will be holding numerous, family fun events.  Below are just some of the incredible things to do in our area (Fireworks events are bolded and red): Saturday, June 29, 2024Fireworks in Houghton Lake at dusk. The show will…

TR police searching for missing, ‘endangered’ 20-year-old

TR police searching for missing, ‘endangered’ 20-year-old

Robert TomlinsonJun 26, 20241 min read

UPDATE: McConnell has been found safe, according to Three Rivers police. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers police are asking for the public’s help in locating someone they say is missing and endangered. According to the Three…

Share River Bluff Park ideas Thursday

Share River Bluff Park ideas Thursday

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20243 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Want to help restore Saugatuck Township’s River Bluff Park? A public open house Thursday, June 27, in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, 174 Center St., Douglas, will be your chance. From 5:30 to 7 p.m., township parks…

July 4 fun to pack full weekend

July 4 fun to pack full weekend

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Holiday weekends in Saugatuck-Douglas mean serious fun. With July 4 falling on a Thursday this year, why not expand your fun two or three more days? Saugatuck’s annual July 4 parade has returned post-Covid to smalltown…

E. Coli advisory receives mixed reception

E. Coli advisory receives mixed reception

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Last week’s Oval Beach E. Coli warning didn’t keep everyone out of Lake Michigan. Five days of 90° heat sent many into the waves regardless, witness the photo above taken June 19.  The City of Saugatuck…

Two if by sea

Two if by sea

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20241 min read

Saugatuck, Holland and Park township fire crews hit Lake Michigan June 18, joined by a county marine division craft and U.S. Coast Guard chopper prepped for airborne transfer. Swimmers at risk, caught in rip currents, happen. Efficient, quick and practiced…

Help make River Bluff Park dreams real

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorWant to help restore Saugatuck Township’s River Bluff Park? A public open house Thursday, June 27, in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, 174 Center St., Douglas, will be your chance.From 5:30 to 7 p.m., township parks committee leaders will…

Plainwell’s Randall chosen to attend Grammy Camp

Plainwell’s Randall chosen to attend Grammy Camp

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Maryn Randall can’t imagine her life without music.“I would say I fell in love with music at an early age, probably before I could even talk,” the Plainwell High School senior said. “My parents, especially my…

The Buck Stops here: Judge Buck announces retirement

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20243 min read

Judge Buck noted, “April of this year marked 45 years that I have had the pleasure of working in the courthouse for the people of Allegan County. I proudly served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the first 21 years…

4th of July Celebrations around the Allegan County area

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20245 min read

By Gari Voss The 4th of July 2024 falls on a Thursday. Several communities are celebrating Independence Day with extra activities on days other than the 4th. In addition, popup fireworks will be happening. Several things to remember:It has been…

Van Buren County Poorhouse Museum reopens following June 2022 storm that damaged building

Van Buren County Poorhouse Museum reopens following June 2022 storm that damaged building

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20244 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer HARTFORD – Following a June 2022 wind and rainstorm that damaged the Van Buren County Poorhouse Museum, a grand re-opening of the museum, the 140th anniversary of the poorhouse building and the 50th anniversary of the…

Community reacts to shootings in Valley leading to six arrests

Community reacts to shootings in Valley leading to six arrests

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20244 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent Arrests made by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office of six suspects involved in drive-by shootings across Chambers and Lee counties were announced in a press release on Monday, June 17th of 2024. In a post to the…

Juneteenth celebrated with block party in LaFayette

Juneteenth celebrated with block party in LaFayette

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20241 min read

LaFayette hosted its 1st annual Juneteenth block party celebration. The celebration was hosted on the National Holiday Juneteenth Day on Wednesday June 19th. The day started out in downtown LaFayette behind Krave Korner restaurant. The DJ was on the ones…

Sturgis superintendent Ebert receives contract extension

Sturgis superintendent Ebert receives contract extension

Dennis VolkertJun 24, 20241 min read

The contract for Art Ebert, superintendent at Sturgis Public Schools, has been extended through June 30, 2028.  The board of education approved the measure June 24.  According to documents provided to the board, Ebert’s compensation for 2024-25 is $178,500.  For…

Road Comm. in progress of developing Safety Action Plan for roads; public input requested

Robert TomlinsonJun 21, 20245 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — The St. Joseph County Road Commission is looking to make streets in the county safer for the future. The agency is currently working on what is called a Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan (CTSAP),…

City shoots down Brownfield redevelopment plan for Coolidge housing development

City shoots down Brownfield redevelopment plan for Coolidge housing development

Robert TomlinsonJun 21, 202413 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A proposed housing development that was controversial among those who lived near the area it would go in seemingly hit a dead-end Tuesday. In a 3-2 vote, the Three Rivers City Commission voted…

‘Another successful year’ for Water Festival in 2024

‘Another successful year’ for Water Festival in 2024

Robert TomlinsonJun 21, 20246 min read

New events, high participation highlight festival; parade postponement, wrestling show cancellation explained By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Another Water Festival is in the books in Three Rivers, and another one that was deemed by organizers to be a…