News

‘Million Dollar Quartet heat up at SCA

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

The Million Dollar Quartet — rock’n’roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — met in Memphis Dec. 4, 1956 for an epochal 1-day gig you can see re-created starting Aug. 10 at the Saugatuck Center…

City taps Thompson as new planning/zoning head

City taps Thompson as new planning/zoning head

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVANEDITOR Saugatuck has appointed South Haven planning and zoning assistant Luke Thompson as its new cityhead of both. As planning and zoning director, Thompson fills a post city manager Ryan Cummins has doubled in since replacing former manager…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorThe Big Wave“One in five Michiganders,” says the Vertical Cherry website, “turn to alcohol for making big financial decisions.” Well, that explains things.“Do I dare to eat a peach?” I’d say in the day, overlooking the produce aisle.…

Venetian Fest brings back boom!

Venetian Fest brings back boom!

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20246 min read

To arms, legs and hearts: The Venetian Fest is coming!The community’s annual celebration of life on our waterways arrives this weekend starting with a dance party Friday, July 26 in Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park; continues Saturday with an afternoon dinghy poker…

Alps and Mediterranean Tour Provides Hands-On Learning

Alps and Mediterranean Tour Provides Hands-On Learning

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor School is currently out of the summer.But that didn’t stop a group of Plainwell High School students from adding to their knowledge base through some first-hand experience.A contingent of 42 individuals from PHS participated in an…

Suspect burglarizes Smoke Shop in Plainwell

Suspect burglarizes Smoke Shop in Plainwell

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Officials with the Plainwell Department Safety are trying to identify the suspect in a burglary that took place in the early hours of Thursday, July 18.At approximately 4:07 a.m., officers were dispatched to Smoke City Smoke…

Surviving members of the Savage family released from hospital, time to heal

Surviving members of the Savage family released from hospital, time to heal

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20243 min read

By Donald Talonen The three surviving members of the Savage family from Kalamazoo, involved in a fatal car accident, have been discharged from the hospital.The accident occurred on Sunday, June 30, at the intersection of 136th Avenue and 58th Street…

Allegan City receives $100k grant for Mahan Park

Allegan City receives $100k grant for Mahan Park

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20247 min read

By Gari Voss The City of Allegan’s Council meeting began with the resignation of Dave Redding. Redding had come on the council to fill a vacant seat then was voted into a second term. After making a statement of gratitude…

Beyond the Call of Duty honors Abel

Beyond the Call of Duty honors Abel

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

On Saturday, July 20th, The Chambers County Sheriff’s Department was visited in downtown LaFayette by the Beyond the Call of Duty organization from the state of Washington to honor Deputy J’Mar Abel, who was killed in the line of duty…

Korean War veterans honored at luncheon

Korean War veterans honored at luncheon

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

The 12th annual Chambers County Korean War Veterans Appreciation Luncheon was held last week at the Coca-Cola Event Center In Opelika. AJIN USA and Wooshin USA hosted this amazing event honoring veterans from the Korean War who were from Chambers…

City agrees to move forward with new city hall

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20244 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent The LaFayette City Council met on Monday, July 22nd of 2024 at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Agricultural Center at the ALFA building in LaFayette. In attendance were Mayor Kenneth Vines, Councilman Terry G. Mangram, Councilman David…

Fireworks end busy day at Youth Fair

Fireworks end busy day at Youth Fair

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

Fireworks were held Friday night, July 19, at the Van Buren Youth Fair in Hartford Friday night. In the photo above, an inflatable alien staged at a vendor’s tent is shown in the foreground, while fireworks burst in the background.Courier-Leader…

Paw Paw Village Planning Commission addresses concert issues at Warner Vineyards

Editorial StaffJul 24, 20241 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – A standing room only crowd voiced compliments and concerns Thursday, July 18, about recent concerts at Warner Vineyards during the Paw Paw Village Planning Commission meeting held at the Paw Paw Township Hall.…

Britt Gross named assistant superintendent at Sturgis Public Schools

Britt Gross named assistant superintendent at Sturgis Public Schools

Dennis VolkertJul 22, 20243 min read

Britt Gross has been named assistant superintendent at Sturgis Public Schools.  The board of education approved the decision Monday at a special meeting, where she was introduced.  Gross served in several capacities at Polk County Public Schools in Florida, most…

Three Rivers police identify body as missing woman’s

Robert TomlinsonJul 17, 20242 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The body found at a home in the 200 block of Middle Street Friday, July 12 has officially been identified as that of a woman that had gone missing nearly a week prior.…

Deer, deer, they’re everywhere!

Editorial StaffJul 17, 20243 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas deer complaints keep rolling in. May Street resident Debbi Larsen wrote city council July 8: “Hello, I live in Douglas and have for the last 25 years. The deer population in the last 5 years…

Locals guide to Venetian Fest fun

Editorial StaffJul 17, 20246 min read

The Saugatuck Venetian Festival, a perennial summertime celebration of life on our waterways, returns to town next weekend July 26-28. Fun will begin Friday with a dance party in Coghlin Park featuring ‘80s cover band Star Farm. The festival continues…

SPS Superintendent Travis to retire

Editorial StaffJul 17, 20242 min read

Tim Travis is retiring as Superintendent of Saugatuck Public School effective Dec. 31. The school board accepted his retirement at Monday’s meeting. Travis has been an educator for 40 years, the last 20 here, including as middle/high school principal before…