News

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on Monday presented superintendent Art Ebert with a “highly effective” rating on his year-end performance appraisal, during a closed session.  The board used School ADvance Administrator Evaluation System, a research-based tool that measures 31…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR California-based Autocamp has scaled back plans from 112 total to 76 phase-one campsites on 29.24 acres 34.61 Blue Star Hwy. because “stuff” happens — specifically, need to dispose of sewage. The Saugatuck Township Board June 12…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR The Saugatuck Township Board June 12 hired Viridis Design Group for $10,500 to prepare a final landscape design for now-undeveloped 7.5-acre Amalanchier Park next to Riverside Cemetery at 3461 Clearbrook Drive. It will be incorporated into…

Saugatuck High School junior Leilani Schoonmaker’s journey through a lens crescendoed — so far, at least — with National Scholastic Art Awards Gold Medal recognition. Her black-and-white photo of the 2023 Portage Cross Country Invitational start made Schoonmaker  SHS art…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Douglas has hired former Allegan County elections coordinator and Plainwell city payroll administrator Jennifer Tien new city treasurer for $74,000 a year plus benefits. City council approved the move at its Monday meeting. Tien will start…

Artist James Brandess will celebrate 30 years in his James Brandess Studios & Gallery, 238 Butler St., downtown Saugatuck, this Saturday, June 22, from noon until 5 p.m. On view in his shop — a historic, tin-ceilinged former post office…

By Scott SullivanEditorCalifornia-based Autocamp has scaled back plans from 112 total to 76 phase-one campsites on 29.24 acres 34.61 Blue Star Hwy. because “stuff” happens — specifically, need to dispose of sewage.The Saugatuck Township Board June 12 weighed a proposed…

Saugatuck High School junior Leilani Schoonmaker’s journey through a lens crescendoed — so far — with a National Scholastic Art Awards Gold Medal.Her black-and-white photo of the 2023 Portage Cross Country Invitational start (below) made Schoonmaker SHS art teacher Daniel…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Fun, family-friendly summer activities are back in Otsego.Summer Fun Nights will take place each Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at the TOP Pavilion through July 30, while Summer Events at Northside Park will take place each…

Artists and lovers of fine art will converge on downtown Otsego once again for the annual Otsego Artisan Market on Saturday, June 22.The market, hosted by Otsego Arts Council (a division of Together Otsego Prospers), runs from 9 a.m. to…

Severe weather has raised its frightful head several times throughout Spring 2024, and that gives rise to ensuring all warning systems work correctly. The tornadoes that ripped through Portage and other surrounding communities are just one example of the importance…

By Paul GarrodSome of the severe storms Sunday night included a tornado touching down near GoblesA tornado warning came just minutes after a tornado was spotted in Gobles. The National Weather Service said, “At 9:59 p.m. a confirmed tornado was…

By Donald Talonen On June 6, 2024, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Approximately 10,000 individuals participated in the ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery. Among them was a local Veteran named Louis…

By Pamela Holloway A Juneteenth celebration was hosted on Saturday in downtown Lanett. The day started out with presentation of the flag, welcome, prayer, and greetings from surrounding areas mayors, Lanett Mayor Jaime Heard, West Point Mayor Steve Tramell, LaFayette…

$2.1 million grant has been awarded to UniteIn its college prep program, Unite Inc. takes high-school students in Chambers County on college tours.Unite Inc., an organization dedicated to increasing college access for Black students in rural Alabama, has been awarded…

Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) reports that about 1,672 customers are still out of power late Monday afternoon, June 17, following Sunday night’s storm in southwest Michigan. The largest outages are currently in the townships of Porter (Van Buren County),…

ARLINGTON TWP. – On Wednesday, June 12, a show cause hearing in Courtroom 3 at the Van Buren County Courthouse, before Judge Susan Metzger, saw Arlington Township ask the court to issue an injunction stopping Stoneco from engaging in gravel…

A 1963 graduate of Paw Paw High School was recently honored for his gallantry in action while serving in the United States Marine Corps during the first offensive battle during the Vietnam War in 1965.On May 29, Lance Cpl. Milo…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The Michigan Department of Transportation announced that starting Tuesday, June 18, they will be performing some pavement repairs on stretches of M-60 and M-86 in Three Rivers. The work will be done on…

Those who owe delinquent water bills can expect to see them added to their summer tax bill. At Monday’s meeting, the Albion City Council voted to approve the addition of delinquent water bills and receivables owed to the city to…