News

Ceremony held for Lawton Hall of Fame inductees

Ceremony held for Lawton Hall of Fame inductees

Editorial Staff Feb 19, 2025 1 min read

On Feb. 14, Lawton Community Schools held a ceremony for the 2024-25 Lawton BlueDevil Hall of Fame inductees. Named to this year’s Hall of Fame induction class areJanine and Troy Johnson (shown second from left and center) – Outstanding dedication…

Three inducted in to Paw Paw Hall of Fame

Three inducted in to Paw Paw Hall of Fame

Editorial Staff Feb 19, 2025 1 min read

This year’s inductees to the Paw Paw Hall of Fame include from left, Michael Roy, Erik Laskovy (accepted on behalf of his mother, Diane Peter and Roy’s daughter, Kellin Laskovy), and Perry Richardson. The three were inducted in ceremonies held…

Man faces charges after vehicle travels off roadway with two small children inside

Editorial Staff Feb 19, 2025 2 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com KEELER TWP. – A Pullman area man faces charges of OWI and child endangerment after his vehicle, with two small children inside, traveled off the roadway in Keeler Township. He alleg-edly passed out, with the children…

Super Bowl 59 at the Michigan Theatre

Super Bowl 59 at the Michigan Theatre

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt, Contributing Writer A free Super Bowl party was held at the Michigan Theater of Jackson on Sunday Feb. 9, from 6 p.m. to close. The event was attended by over 100 people, including a camera and reporter…

Christopher Simpson becomes new chief of police, City of Jackson

Christopher Simpson becomes new chief of police, City of Jackson

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the City of Jackson officially announced that Jackson County Under Sheriff, Christopher A. Simpson (56), will become chief of police for the city. Chief Simpson formerly served the Jackson Police Department…

Men Who Cook dazzles with more unique dishes and volunteer devotion

Men Who Cook dazzles with more unique dishes and volunteer devotion

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Men Who Cook brought 41 cooks to the serving table and a unique variety of flavors including crowd favorites like macaroni and cheese. Citizens to Beautify Albion sponsored the event at the First Baptist Church in Albion…

Anna’s House of Flowers 40th Anniversary marking so much more than a chronological number

Anna’s House of Flowers 40th Anniversary marking so much more than a chronological number

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 7 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Anna’s House of Flowers has been in business in Albion for 40 years and the shop has managed to survive in hard economic times and good. Owner Anna Merritt shared her perspective on her flower shop’s longevity.…

Centreville/Constantine police merger going ‘better than imagined’ early on

Centreville/Constantine police merger going ‘better than imagined’ early on

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 7 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE — Five months after a historic merger between two local municipalities for policing, things appear to be going smoothly so far for the Centreville-Constantine Police Department.The department was merged on Sept. 1 of last year,…

Commission OK’s first review of zoning ordinance revision

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday approved a first review of zoning ordinance amendments. A second reading and pending approval is expected at the next board meeting, scheduled for Feb. 26.Staff members and the planning commission have been working on…

Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 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.Sturgis Area Model Railroaders winter hours at Sturgis Historical Museum, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Online: sturgismuseum.org. Feb. 15Water Street Dance,…

Witbeck’s still thrives amidst the concerns of price of eggs

Witbeck’s still thrives amidst the concerns of price of eggs

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 5 min read

By Christopher Johnson In the wake of natural disasters, strange weather patterns and a new president, many American small-towners are wondering what’s next for their pocketbook and the economy in 2025. Clare is no different, as its shoppers are looking…

Frostbite events draw crowds to Harrison

Frostbite events draw crowds to Harrison

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 2 min read

By Genine Hopkins Frostbite Winter Festival 2025 is now on the books AND had snow this year, with more piling on as the festivities began to wrap up, with nearly six inches falling from the afternoon on Saturday, February 9,…

Post-election audit shows counts were clean

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 2 min read

Allegan County officials are praising the work of local clerks and election inspectors following the results of state-mandated post-election audits that ended Feb. 6.The audits included hand counts of votes on paper ballots to measure the accuracy of the totals…

Otsego Hall of Fame welcomes three newest members

Otsego Hall of Fame welcomes three newest members

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 6 min read

The Otsego Athletic Boosters welcomed the three newest members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb., between the girls and boys varsity basketball games.The Class of 2025 included Jesse Blanchard, Charity (Knight) Newby and Jessica (Sheen) Strickler.A ceremony…

Plainwell MS Honors Choir performs at state conference

Plainwell MS Honors Choir performs at state conference

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GRAND RAPIDS—When Plainwell Middle School choir director Rachel Quillian applied to have her Honors Choir perform at the Michigan Music Conference, she wasn’t sure what to expect.“It’s usually high school choirs that perform at the conference,…

Mills charged with mother’s death

Mills charged with mother’s death

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 1 min read

 A murder charge has been filed against a man in the death of his mother, who he lived with near Pullman, Allegan County Sheriff deputies say.Craig Michael Mills, 23, faces a charge of open murder in the death of 43-year-old…

City prepares for multiple improvement projects including parking lot, Mahan Park

City prepares for multiple improvement projects including parking lot, Mahan Park

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 12 min read

By Gari Voss At their February 11, 2025, meeting, the Allegan City Council approved numerous purchase orders for the Department of Public Works that would assist in the implementation of the Mahan Park project, Ely Street and Airway Drive improvements,…

The Honorable Michael Buck receives Award of Excellence

The Honorable Michael Buck receives Award of Excellence

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 3 min read

By Lauren Miller& Gari Voss Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) plays a vital role in supporting children involved in the child welfare and family court systems because of abuse or neglect. CASA of the Harbor, a program under the auspice…

Tom Renner honored by South Haven council

Tom Renner honored by South Haven council

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 5 min read

By James Windell A decades-long resident of South Haven was presented with a proclamation from Mayor Annie Brown at the South Haven City Council meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025.The proclamation read at the council meeting noted that Tom Renner…

South Haven City Council approves extension of STR moratorium

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 3 min read

By James Windell Despite threats of a lawsuit and other consequences, the South Haven City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025, passed a resolution pertaining to Short Term Rentals (STR).Resolution 2025—09 proposed an additional six-month extension…