News

Flower Expo Retraction

Editorial StaffJun 6, 20241 min read

by Donald Talonen The Flower Expo will not be held at the Allegan County Fairgrounds on August 7 and 8 as previously reported. The request to change the city ordinance to allow for the event to take place was passed…

Of Community Pride & a cardboard reign

Of Community Pride & a cardboard reign

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Community Pride goeth —or wenteth — before a rainfall Saturday. The sun shone on earlier events — drag bowling Thursday, speaker sessions at the Kirby Hotel and Saugatuck-Douglas District Library and Friday’s Jazz for Justice concert…

City has less parking for safety’s sake

City has less parking for safety’s sake

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20244 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR In a city where parking is an issue, Saugatuck now has less. Council May 29 voted 5-2 to ban parking on one side of eight narrow stretches of street and both sides of Pleasant Street. The…

Life ambulance now provider here

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR’’’ Life EMS has replaced AMR as main ambulance provider for northern Saugatuck Township plus Saugatuck and Douglas cities. The Grand Rapids-based firm, owned and founded by Meijer Inc. heir Mark Meijer, provides first-response EMT services from…

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Graduation ceremony sends off Class of 2024

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo On June 2, Ratcliffe Field was filled with families, friends and a flurry of caps and gowns. Around 100 degrees were set to be conferred that afternoon, and as the stands filled up, the graduates took their…

South Haven top graduates look to the future

South Haven top graduates look to the future

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo With their time in school behind them, the top students in South Haven High School’s graduating class are excited for the new opportunities their futures will bring.Topping the class this year were Kayley Gorham and Kelsey Hodgman,…

City Council furthers zoning ordinance, establishes moratorium

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Michael Reo At the first South Haven City Council meeting of June, the council handled a number of matters, new and old. They furthered the zoning ordinance regarding short-term rentals, pushing it along to the city’s Planning Commission, in…

Spat’s away, kids will play

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

Houston, Saugatuck had a procedural problem expanding its new playground to incorporate unforeseen ADA add-ons. Tree City trees were felled unannounced to some Village Square Park neighbors, prompting a court-decreed stop-work order that required the city to square matters with…

Life is new emergency transport here

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorLife EMS has replaced AMR as main ambulance provider for northern Saugatuck Township plus Saugatuck and Douglas cities.The Grand Rapids-based firm, owned and founded by Meijer Inc. heir Mark Meijer, provides first-response EMT services from regional bases covering…

OPS sets Meet Up & Eat Up, Bookin’ Bus schedules

OPS sets Meet Up & Eat Up, Bookin’ Bus schedules

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Free meals and books aplenty.That’s what Otsego Public Schools will be offering to the community during the upcoming summer break.OPS recently announced the schedule for its Meet Up & Eat Up meal program and the Bulldogs…

PHS honors top academic members of Class of ‘24

PHS honors top academic members of Class of ‘24

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20246 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorElizabeth French certainly knew how to stay busy during her time at Plainwell High School.Athletically, French was part of the girls swim & dive team, earning Most Improved in recognition of her hard work and determination.Her other…

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Capital campaign for Mahan Park improvement launched

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The City of Allegan has partnered with…

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Downtown Allegan’s Bridgefest set for this weekend

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20242 min read

The City of Allegan will host the annual Bridgefest celebration, a vibrant and fun-filled event taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024. From 11 AM to 10 PM, Downtown Allegan will come alive with a day packed with activities, entertainment,…

Alumni Classes 1970-2023 present scholarships to LHS, parks and rec

Alumni Classes 1970-2023 present scholarships to LHS, parks and rec

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20241 min read

Representatives from the Class of ‘97, LHS host class for Homecoming 2023, presented on behalf of all 52 LHS alumni classes 1970 – 2023 two $500 scholarships and a total of $1600 in donations to various athletic entities at Lafayette…

49 arrested on 125 charges by Task Force

Editorial StaffJun 5, 20247 min read

From 2/7/2024 – 5/29/2024 Agents of the Chambers County Drug Task Force/ Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force, Chambers County Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team, Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Valley Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, and the Lanett Police Department conducted numerous operations,…

CONCORD:  Honey bees hitch a ride out of downtown Concord

CONCORD:  Honey bees hitch a ride out of downtown Concord

Editorial StaffJun 3, 20246 min read

By Ken Wyatt It has been a recurring issue at Concord Village Council meetings. Recurring? Well, not often. But usually about this time every year a 19th century wall along Homer Street starts buzzing with the activity of honey bees.…

Marshall High School seniors march through downtown Albion

Marshall High School seniors march through downtown Albion

Editorial StaffJun 3, 20241 min read

Marshall Public Schools held their Senior Parade in downtown Albion on Wednesday, May 29. Parents, community members and businesses gathered on the sidewalks along Superior Street between Cass and Ash Streets to celebrate the Class of 2024 and wish them…

New War Memorial unveiling at the Springport Cemetery

New War Memorial unveiling at the Springport Cemetery

Editorial StaffJun 3, 20242 min read

Memorial Day in Springport was extra special this year, as the Adams-Rockey VFW Post 6056 dedicated a new War Memorial at the Springport Cemetery. The post had received a $2,500 donation from Harold Webb’s Trust fund. Webb was a past…

City temporarily closes water system to Riverside Cemetery, Council discusses various other items

Editorial StaffJun 3, 20243 min read

Those who attended Albion’s annual Memorial Day celebration at Riverside Cemetery may have noticed some recent improvements. The City of Albion is working to clean up Riverside Cemetery and is collaborating with members of Friends of Riverside Cemetery, Albion VFW, and…

Looking Out: Pigs on the wing

Editorial StaffJun 3, 20243 min read

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a column about our daily raccoon visitors, the placid Creampuff and the more aggressive Bismarck. Both spend time each day beneath our bird feeder, picking up uneaten seeds dropped by the birds. I…