News

Stermer found guilty of killing husband a second time

Stermer found guilty of killing husband a second time

Editorial Staff Apr 16, 2025 2 min read

A woman accused of killing her husband by setting him on fire and then running him over has been found guilty by a jury in a retrial.Linda Stermer has been found guilty of two counts of murder, including first-degree murder.…

53 inducted into PPHS National Honor Society

53 inducted into PPHS National Honor Society

Editorial Staff Apr 16, 2025 1 min read

A total of 53 new members were recently inducted into Paw Paw High School National Honor Society. They include: Jacob Ameling, Victor Armijo, Chase Boff, Liliana Brausch, Bella Clemons, Kami Crandall, Kassidy Derhammer, Emma Deuel, Gracie Eagle, Anderson Farnquist, Eric…

Consumers upgrades in Oshtemo may affect traffic

Editorial Staff Apr 16, 2025 2 min read

Consumers Energy is upgrading and installing new natural gas distribution pipelines along key corridors in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. These improvements are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the safety, reliability and capacity of the natural gas system in…

Lawton Village Council approves lighting update to baseball/softball complex

Editorial Staff Apr 16, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – The Lawton Village Council at its Tuesday, April 8, council meeting, approved lighting updates at the Lawton Youth Baseball and Softball complex.During Citizen’s Comments, Doug Lawrence, representing Lawton Youth Baseball and Softball, provided Lawton…

Pipeline leak shuts down gas to 5K+ homes

Pipeline leak shuts down gas to 5K+ homes

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 2 min read

A natural gas transmission pipeline damaged near Fennville Wednesday cut off service to some 5,200 customers in the Saugatuck/Douglas/Fennville area. More than 200 Michigan Gas Utilities and other crews from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois and continued working to restore service…

Jackson County Jail may cooperate with ICE

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer The Jackson County Jail may soon cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in assessing the immigration status of any person in its custody at the 1995 Chanter Road facility. However, this does not mean that…

Planned Parenthood of Jackson closing end of month

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 4 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer Planned Parenthood of Jackson will be closing its clinic at 2009 W. Michigan Ave. on April 25, due to an expected loss in funding due to Medicaid and Title X reductions. The facility offered birth…

Michigan’s major railway project is back on track, with Clare at its core

Michigan’s major railway project is back on track, with Clare at its core

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 8 min read

By Christopher Johnson To some, the idea of a passenger railway connecting across Lower and Upper Michigan may not be unfamiliar. It’s an idea that’s been around for a hot minute but until recent years has been only that: A…

Local ‘Hands Off!’ protest rallies against Trump, Musk policies

Local ‘Hands Off!’ protest rallies against Trump, Musk policies

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 4 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — An estimated 175 people from the local area gathered at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Main Street in Three Rivers to join a national protest movement this past Saturday.The protest was part…

TR City Commission meeting time to change to 5 p.m.

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 3 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — For the first time in years, the Three Rivers City Commission will now be meeting at an earlier time.The city announced on social media Tuesday night that starting with their next meeting on…

Moyer announces resignation from Sturgis City Commission Third turnover in the 2nd Precinct seat since 2023

Moyer announces resignation from Sturgis City Commission Third turnover in the 2nd Precinct seat since 2023

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 1 min read

A seat on Sturgis City Commission’s 2nd Precinct is open again.Rodger Moyer on Wednesday announced will resign at the end of April, due to moving away from the district.In November, Moyer was elected to the seat vacated by Alan Albarran,…

Special assessment district approved for sidewalk projects

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday held public hearings regarding new sidewalks and sidewalk repair on St. Joseph Street. The city of Sturgis engineering department is initiating the district in accordance with the public sidewalk construction policy, approved by…

U.S. 12 resurfacing project gets underway soon St. Joseph Street upgrade has begun

U.S. 12 resurfacing project gets underway soon St. Joseph Street upgrade has begun

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert Setup for Michigan Department of Transportation to resurface U.S. 12 in Sturgis is expected in mid-April, with work commencing May 1, city engineer Barry Cox said.Target completion date is July 31.The project involves a roughly two-mile segment…

Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 4 min read

RECURRINGChildren’s story time, 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Friday, Sturgis District Library. Additional events at library available at www.sturgis-library.org/events. APRIL April 11“Spring & Food Expo,” 5:30-9 p.m, Sturges-Young Center of the Arts, features cooking show, “Tastings of Sturgis,” hosted by Laura Kurella,…

Four arrested on drug charges

Four arrested on drug charges

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 3 min read

On Thursday April 03, 2025 at 10:07 p.m. a Deputy with the Clare County Sheriff Office observed a vehicle stopped on the shoulder of M-115 near Maple Grove Rd in the Township of Surrey, in Clare County. This vehicle, which…

Clare woman’s connection to the Clare comes full circle

Clare woman’s connection to the Clare comes full circle

Editorial Staff Apr 11, 2025 4 min read

By Genine Hopkins When Prudence Pembridge moved to City of Clare with her husband Robert in 2022, the choice was made for convenience more than anything else; the location was close to her own family in Northern Michigan in Bliss…

Interurban grows in uncertain times

Editorial Staff Apr 9, 2025 4 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor In Saugatuck-Douglas the blue buses are ubiquitous. Starting soon the Interurban Transit Authority’s fleet will be venturing further into Fennville, Laketown Township and Glenn reaching to South Haven from expanded offices. The low-cost — 50 cents…

Police chase ends in Jars parking lot

Jordan Wilcox Apr 9, 2025 2 min read

By Jordan Wilcox Assistant Publisher Police Monday arrested a Northern Michigan man who fled briefly in the Jars Cannabis parking lot off Blue Star Highway south of Douglas. Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies and Michigan State Police answered a 2:27 p.m.…

Friends honor library head

Editorial Staff Apr 9, 2025 1 min read

Friends of the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library honored Ingrid Boyer (front and center on her 10th anniversary as library director. Shown behind her are (from left) Carol Carra, Jess Grey, Christi Allen, Kirstin Carr, Betsy York, Gini Cooper and Charlotte Stewart.…

CN funder May 4 honors Frederick legacy

Editorial Staff Apr 9, 2025 2 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor The late Arthur Frederick’s spring benefits for Christian Neighbors, held in his art filled home and gardens, were a must on many calendars. For more than 20 years they raised upwards of $20,000 for the nonprofit…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.