News
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…
Proposed Dollar General in Monterey Twp threatens local party store
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher After several years of fabricating raw steel into products and a few painful surgeries, Todd Bursma decided he needed a career change.He and his family sold their home, farm, and twenty acres of land, and moved…
Coffee with the Council
Tom and Rosie Hunter met with Allegan Councilmembers Will Walker and Melanie Hooker at Mugshots on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The council members are in their first terms on the city council and want to hear from the residents of…
Chamber of Commerce announces new Executive Director
By James Windell The South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce will have a new Executive Director after Kathy Wagaman has led the agency for the past 13 years.Beginning March 1, 2025, Brandy Key, who has been the Community Liaison for…
Riverwoods Project close to being purchased
By James Windell On February 18, 2025, Scott Reinert, South Haven Area Recreation Authority (SHARA) Recreation Administrator, updated the SHARA Board on the Riverwoods site purchase.Riverwoods is a site owned by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Located adjacent to…
City Council sends new STR ordinance to Planning Commission
By James Windell The South Haven City Council voted to send a revised Short-Term Rental (STR) ordinance to the Planning Commission.While this was welcome news to some factions, it was met with something less than enthusiasm by others.The revised STR…
Student art displayed at South Haven Center for Arts
Voices Made Visual, Middle and High School Art Exhibition held its opening reception at the South Haven Center for the Arts on Friday, February 28, from 5-7pm. Artists, family, friends, and com-munity members were all invited to celebrate with refreshments,…
Chili Walk brings crowd to downtown Paw Paw
The third annual Paw Paw Chili Walk was held Saturday, Feb. 22, in downtown Paw Paw. Nearly 30 businesses and organizations took part in the event that attracted large crowds during the event, held from noon to 4 p.m. The…
Groundbreaking set for first Mattawan Consolidated School Construction Bond Project Stadium Work, Phase 1
MATTAWAN – Mattawan Consolidated School has announced the first groundbreaking ceremony for the district’s inaugural construction project under the $110 million School Construction Bond. The event will take place March 10, at 6 p.m. at the stadium and will officially…
Occupant found dead in Lawton house fire
By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives are investigating a fatal house fire that occurred Friday, February 21, at approximately 7:08 a.m., in the 29000…
Annual frost laws to go into effect Friday on St. Joseph County roads
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — As winter goes into its final weeks and spring starts to bloom with higher temperatures, annual weight restrictions on St. Joseph County roads will go into effect as well. The St. Joseph County Road…
Egg supply and costs affect area businesses and consumers
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Are we in an egg crisis? Recent news stories online have made it seem like we may be having an egg shortage, egg price inflation, and/or egg supply chain issues. The Morning Star looked into…
City of Albion moves forward on water project, residents will see slight rate increase
By KARA DECHALK Contributing Writer At Monday’s council meeting council approved Ordinance # 2025-02 providing for the issuance and sale of revenue bonds. These bonds will pay for the improvements and extensions to the water supply system of the city.…
Jeremy Barnett will be acting Jackson County undersheriff
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Jackson County Sheriff, Gary Schuette said in an interview earlier this week that Lt. Jeremy Barnett will replace outgoing Undersheriff, Christopher A. Simpson, who left the office to become Chief of Police for the City…
