News

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Groundbreaking held for bond initiative at Mattawan Consolidated Schools

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

MATTAWAN – Monday, March 10, marked a historic milestone for Mattawan Consolidated Schools as the district broke ground on the first phase of a comprehensive, multi-year school construction project. This initiative follows the approval of a $110 million dollar school…

BOC hopes to get $3 million grant for dispatch/emergency center

Editorial Staff Mar 19, 2025 4 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com PAW PAW – Van Buren County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, approved a re-quest, on an expedited basis, the submission of an application for Congressionally Di-rected Spending (CDS) for $3 million to construct a new 911…

County Prosecutor to go before Attorney Discipline Board

County Prosecutor to go before Attorney Discipline Board

Robert Tomlinson Mar 18, 2025 8 min read

Scheduled hearing related to Davis’ 2024 firing for allegedly lying to judge By Robert TomlinsonNews Director DETROIT — St. Joseph County’s prosecuting attorney could face formal action from the state regarding an alleged incident from prior to her election. In…

TR DDA to apply for vibrancy grant for Historical Society project

TR DDA to apply for vibrancy grant for Historical Society project

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 4 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority will be seeking funding from the state for a proposed project headed by the St. Joseph County Historical Society.At its meeting Thursday, March 6, the DDA unanimously…

Former secretary who embezzled nearly 30K from Clark Logic, charged with embezzling again from Paw Paw Public Schools

Former secretary who embezzled nearly 30K from Clark Logic, charged with embezzling again from Paw Paw Public Schools

Jordan Wilcox Mar 14, 2025 3 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In March 2024, 33-year-old Danielle Taylor was convicted of embezzling nearly $30,000 from Clark Logic, a multi-faceted company with a significant presence and origins in Three Rivers.Taylor would take in customers’ credit cards and instead of paying…

City of Sturgis to assess options for curbside recycling program

City of Sturgis to assess options for curbside recycling program

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday had a preliminary discussion regarding curbside recycling.City manager Andrew Kuk provided an overview for the board.In 2008, the city first entered into a five-year contract for curbside recycling with Borden Waste-Away .Borden…

High attendance for ‘Dr. Seuss’ party at library

High attendance for ‘Dr. Seuss’ party at library

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 1 min read

By Dennis Volkert “Dr. Seuss Birthday Party” was held March 7 at Sturgis District Library.The event, an annual feature at the library for about the past 20 years, featured a “Cat in the Hat” backpack giveaway and a free book…

‘Art Around Town’ auction, ‘Winter Wine Down’ featured March 21

‘Art Around Town’ auction, ‘Winter Wine Down’ featured March 21

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert “Art Around Town” auction and “Winter Wine Down” takes place 5:30-9 p.m. March 21 in downtown Sturgis.It’s the second festival of the 2025 season, presented by Sturgis Downtown Development Authority.Seventeen works are part of the silent auction,…

Pastor sentenced on aggravated assault charge

Pastor sentenced on aggravated assault charge

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 1 min read

On March 5th, 2025 Judge Joshua Ferrell met back in the courtroom with Harold Norman Cole, Jr. for sentencing on a charge from November of 2024. Cole is a former pastor of Farwell Trinity Baptist Church.The original charge was second…

Irish Festival

Irish Festival

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 3 min read

By Rachael Humphrey The 50th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival is now underway, and with a new title! It was recently voted the Favorite Festival in the 989!So far, festival goers in Clare have listened to the Chelsea House Orchestra…

Farwell businessman found guilty of employment tax crimes

Editorial Staff Mar 14, 2025 3 min read

A federal jury convicted Dale Thrush for not paying employment taxes and not filing his own individual income tax returns this week. Earlier in December, Thrush was convicted of fraudulently obtaining a PPP loan.According to court documents and evidence presented…

Birders flock to barnacle goose seen here

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 1 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorBirders were abuzz about a barnacle goose seen and photographed in a Saugatuck Township field and along the Kalamazoo River last week..If it can be documented as a wild bird, likely having migrated here from Greenland or northeast…

Pier Cove Park improvements set

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 2 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorWork to improve Pier Cove Park will start March 24 thanks to state grants and local matching funds.Ganges Township — with help from a $266,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant, its own $65,500 match plus…

Douglas beefs up Beery Field charge

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 1 min read

You’ll get twice the charge — but at a charge — from the Beery Field electric vehicle charging stations soon.The City of Douglas, which for five years has offered the service free east of the park’s restroom/storage building, will implement…

Otsego High School to present “Seussical”

Otsego High School to present “Seussical”

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 5 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Oh, the sights you will see and the songs you will hear—Otsego High School’s production of the “Seussical” is almost here!The musical, inspired by the works of the one and only Dr. Seuss, will take the…

High school student helps raise money for Parkinson’s

High school student helps raise money for Parkinson’s

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor As a member of the Van Andel Institute’s Student Ambassador Program, Otsego senior Landon Eastman volunteers for events that raise money for Parkinson’s research.It’s a cause that hits close to home for Eastman, whose father is…

City Council discusses ballfield improvements, selling city property

City Council discusses ballfield improvements, selling city property

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 7 min read

By Gari Voss The Allegan City Council addressed a variety of issues during their Monday, March 10, 2025, meeting. The Village Market and Juan Linn Restaurant moved officially to the C-2 General Commercial District Zone. The adjustments to Ordinance 528…

Gun Lake Casino hotel opens its doors

Gun Lake Casino hotel opens its doors

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 2 min read

The Gun Lake Tribe has unveiled its long-awaited hotel addition to the Gun Lake Casino, marking a significant expansion for the property that opened in 2011.The 16-story hotel boasts 252 luxury rooms and suites, offering panoramic views of the surrounding…

Ice shelf blocks Black River channel entrance

Ice shelf blocks Black River channel entrance

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 1 min read

Spring might be here but fishing on the Big Lake can’t happen yet because of an ice shelf blocking the Black River channel entrance.By Tom Renner

SH Council debates merits of energy assistance program

Editorial Staff Mar 12, 2025 4 min read

By James Windell A new Michigan law went into effect this year which requires the City of South Haven to decide whether to be part of the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP).At a Special Meeting of the Board of Public…

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.