News

Former SH substitute teacher, who violently threatened students, also charged with destruction of Allegan building

Editorial StaffOct 17, 20245 min read

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher More information has been released about the substitute teacher whose unsettling comments led to a shelter in place order at South Haven’s Baseline Middle School on Tuesday, September 10th. He was involved in more altercations, been…

City denies claims made by four residents

City denies claims made by four residents

Editorial StaffOct 17, 20244 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent The LaFayette City Council met on Monday, October 14th of 2024 at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Agricultural Center at the ALFA building in LaFayette. In attendance were Mayor Kenneth Vines, Councilman Terry G. Mangram, Councilman David…

SPLC investigation successfully prohibits unpaid garbage bill arrests

Editorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent In an October 11th, 2024 press release from the Montgomery based civil rights nonprofit organization Southern Poverty Law Center it was announced that their campaign against citizens being arrested for unpaid garbage bills which began with their…

Benefit Concert held to raise funds to fight Huntington’s Disease

Benefit Concert held to raise funds to fight Huntington’s Disease

Editorial StaffOct 17, 20245 min read

PAW PAW – The seventh annual Champions for HD Benefit Concert, held Saturday, Oct. 12, at The Lucky Wolf Theater, Paw Paw, saw more than $5,00 raised to help families fight Huntington’s Disease.Shelby Lentz began Champions for HD, after the…

Lawton Village Council approves pay Increase for police officers

Editorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

By Paul GarrodStaff Writernews4garrod@gmail.com LAWTON – The Lawton Village Council approved a motion at the Oct. 8 Lawton Village Council meeting to increase fulltime pay for Lawton police officers.Village Of Lawton Chief of Police Greg Cordes said that increasing the…

50k gallons of wastewater spill into St. Joseph River; no-contact advisory issued [UPDATED]

50k gallons of wastewater spill into St. Joseph River; no-contact advisory issued [UPDATED]

Robert TomlinsonOct 15, 20243 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director Updated 7:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 2024 THREE RIVERS — For the second time in two years, a major wastewater spill into the St. Joseph River in Three Rivers has occurred. On Monday, the Three Rivers Department…

Final 911 call, police sketch released in Shank disappearance

Final 911 call, police sketch released in Shank disappearance

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20245 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Newly-public details in the disappearance of Brittany Nichole Wallace Shank of Sturgis were released Monday by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department.Included in the new materials were a 911 call containing what police say…

Annexation public hearing to be held at Riviera Theatre

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20243 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A public hearing location has been set for a proposed property annexation from Lockport Township into the City of Three Rivers. The public hearing for the proposed annexation of a 37-acre parcel on…

DPW completes hydrant maintenance

DPW completes hydrant maintenance

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20241 min read

In late September, Sturgis Department of Public Services spent a week conducting a twice-yearly flushing of hydrants.The process typically takes place each April and September.The fall ’24 flush involved work by 10 crew members, rotating three or four each day…

Roundup of happenings in the Sturgis area

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20244 min read

RECURRINGChildren’s story time, 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Friday, Sturgis District Library.Timberly pumpkin patch, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27. Hayrides offered throughout the day, final ride departs at 5 p.m.Sturgis Area Model Railroaders winter…

Marshall wins Calhoun County XC Invitationals

Marshall wins Calhoun County XC Invitationals

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20244 min read

By Jeff Steers Contributing Writer The Marshall High School boys and girls cross country teams won the Calhoun County Invitational at home Saturday. The Redhawks placed all five runners in the top 10 at Turkeyville in both of the 5K…

Double fatality highlights dangers of Pulaski Road

Double fatality highlights dangers of Pulaski Road

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20245 min read

By Ken Wyatt A western Jackson County couple perished in a fiery crash near Swains Lake in Pulaski Township Sunday morning (Oct. 6). Here’s what the Michigan State Police report had to say, based on both troopers’ on-site investigation and…

Rail-Trail Ribbon Cutting October 23

Rail-Trail Ribbon Cutting October 23

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20241 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent In his report to the Clare City Commission last Monday evening, City Manager Jeremy Howard reported that, “The [Pere’ Marquette Rail-Trail] project is pretty much complete, barring a couple of punch list items. Bridge railings have been…

No injuries in Union Township fire

No injuries in Union Township fire

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20241 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent No injuries were reported in a house fire in Union Township Tuesday afternoon.Mt. Pleasant Firefighters had a house fire in Union Township under control in minutes Tuesday afternoon and no one was injured in the blaze.Firefighters were…

Assault leads to attempted murder charges for Vandenbos of McBain

Assault leads to attempted murder charges for Vandenbos of McBain

Editorial StaffOct 14, 20242 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent A 41-year-old McBain man, Timothy Vandenbos, was arrested in Winterfield Township for attempted murder, assault, domestic violence, weapons and more at a Clam River Road home last Thursday, (October 3 rd ).Clare County Sheriff’s Office deputies were…

Douglas eyes bond to reset old hospital

Editorial StaffOct 9, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Council agreed Monday to hire Miller Canfield as legal counsel to help issue $4 million in improvement bonds to renovate 415 Wiley Road as a new city hall and police department. The city Aug.…

Veep hopeful seeks catch here

Veep hopeful seeks catch here

Editorial StaffOct 9, 20241 min read

It’s not every day a Vice Presidential candidate swings by Saugatuck. But that’s what Republican hopeful JD Vance did Oct. 4, pausing while campaigning in West Michigan to go fishing with his son Vivek, 4. A security police presence spotted…

DES string spray precedes Oct. 18 Walk-a-thon

DES string spray precedes Oct. 18 Walk-a-thon

Editorial StaffOct 9, 20241 min read

Douglas Elementary School geared up for its annual PTO-sponsored Walk-a-thon fundraiser Friday, Oct. 18 with an in-school Silly String Celebration Friday, Sept. 27.The 113 students who raised more than $300 in Walk-a-thon pledges were invited out on the nearby baseball…

Douglas forum cites infrastructure needs

Editorial StaffOct 9, 20243 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFive of six candidates for four open two-year seats on the Douglas City Council addressed issues at a Holland League of Women Voters-sponsored forum Oct. 2 in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library.Incumbents Greg Freeman, John O’Malley, Neal Seabert and…

Safety week returns to Otsego Schools

Safety week returns to Otsego Schools

Editorial StaffOct 9, 20243 min read

The safety of students and staff members is a top priority for Otsego Public Schools officials.That’s why, for the fifth year, OPS is recognizing School Safety Week beginning Monday, Oct. 14, and running through Friday, Oct. 18.This year, along with…