News

Proposed new gymnasium complex, school tech and infrastructure upgrades highlight proposal By Robert TomlinsonNews Director COLON — Voters in Colon will be deciding Tuesday whether or not to approve a school bond proposal that district administrators say will not raise…

Sturges-Young Center for the Arts in Sturgis has announced its Performance Series for 2025-26.  Dates and featured shows: Oct. 25: Deep Blue Something. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Anniversary Tour. Dec. 3: Dance Alive National Ballet. “The Nutcracker.” Feb. 7: Krendl Magic.…

THREE RIVERS — An Elkhart, Ind. man who thought he would never again see the car he and his father built got an amazing surprise nearly 60 years later, thanks to the power of the Internet and the curiosity of…

As one might expect, a canine show was the focus of “Dog Days,” held Aug. 1 in downtown Sturgis.Participants competed for ribbons in five categories: Best Pooch Costume, Best Talent/Trick, Musical Chairs, “Waggiest” Tail and Judges Choice for Favorite Dog.Sweet…

By Steve Eldridge BURR OAK — There’s an old saying that goes “Don’t rain on my parade.”During last weekend’s 16th Annual Burr Oak Heritage Festival, that’s exactly what the thought was, as inclement weather was predicted well before the four-day…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director MENDON — Three local school districts will have renewals of their operating millage on the ballot for their communities next week.On Tuesday, Aug. 5, voters in the Mendon, Nottawa and Marcellus school districts will decide whether…

By Genine Hopkins Over the past several years, Marion has faced what many other rural areas in America has faced: the closing of their independent, local grocery store. Carrow’s in Farwell, Witbeck’s in Clare, and M&J Market in Marion, all…

By Christopher Johnson You may have noticed some major construction on the south end of town in recent months. With Dollar Daze now sadly shuttered, the husk that remains is now the placeholder for the new Gateway Lanes entertainment center–confirmed…

Douglas has closed Westshore Street betweenSt. Peters Drive and Hamilton Street on heels a watermain break there Friday. The break has been repaired, city officials said, but water over the roadway has created potential safety concerns due to erosion. City…

… was a blast. See more photographs inside.

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor With July drawing to a close, the start of a new school year is creeping ever closer.Otsego Public School’s first day of classes is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19, while Plainwell Community Schools will welcome students…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The potential for some rainy weather led to changes for this year’s Island City Festival.Most of the festival—originally scheduled to take place in and around downtown Plainwell on Saturday, July 26—was moved inside Plainwell High School’s…

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

By Gari Voss Summer months are packed with outdoor activities, special events, family memories, and more. With the busy family schedules, many residents forget that there is often a “primary” election in August. On August 5, 2025, from 7am to…

 The Plainwell Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce that several kayakers reported missing earlier Saturday have been successfully located and removed in the Kalamazoo River. All individuals are safe and accounted for. At approximately 7 pm on Saturday, a…

By Gari Voss Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of Christopher Burnett to complete the Honorable William A. Baillargeon’s term on the Allegan County 57th District Court bench.Burnett is a resident of Allegan and has worked…

By Gari VossThe news could not have been worse. Village Market employee Jordan Otto and her husband Michael had been in an automobile accident as they were headed home from a shower. Jordan was pregnant and near delivery, but a…

By James Windell West Michigan is the leader of the blueberry industry because of the ideal acidic soil and the lakeshore climate that promotes a thriving crop. Although blueberries are now grown all over the U.S., West Michigan is still…

By James Windell What the public talks about in the public comments portion of the South Haven City Council meetings is always a foreshadowing of later events in that meeting. So it happened on Monday, July 21, 2025.The second person…

By Tom Renner South Haven beaches have been packed during the current sweltering heat wave. A response to a report of a missing child at the South Beach on Wednesday brought a quick response from city beach safety, police and…