News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Picking peaches

By Scott SullivanEditorIt’s prime time for pictures of people picking peaches. Bella Vista Farm west of Fennville is bursting with Allstar, Sweetstar, Loring and Blushing Star brands plus plums, raspberries, nectarines and early Sweet Maya apples.Mary and John Renaldi bought the rolling 105-acre orchards and fields at 6017 124th Ave. from Gary and Sandy Crane, Read More…

News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Township dedicates ‘Canary’ sculpture

By Scott SullivanEditorYou can’t miss Saugatuck Township’s first public art piece “Canary in a Coal Mine.”The 11-foot-tall yellow steel sculpture went up this May as centerpiece in the year-old Blue Star Highway/Old Allegan Road roundabout.At a dedication ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 20, township officials and art advocate Maryjo Lemanski unveiled a roadside plaque citing creator Shawn Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise News

Gus Macker Tournament proves successful once again

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returned for its 10th appearance in the City of Otsego on Saturday, Aug. 23, and Friday, Aug. 24.And the event shows no signs of waning in popularity.To the contrary, the Macker only continues to thrive and grow, with a record number of teams participating this Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Sports

Allegan tennis wins home tournament

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Hosting the Tiger Duals on Saturday, Aug. 23, the Allegan boys tennis team won four flight championships to secure top honors.The Tigers, ranked eighth in Division 4, finished with 16 points, followed by Notre Dame Prep (No. 9 in D4) with 13, Coopersville with 12 and Portland with seven.No. 2 singles Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Columns Courier-Leader, Paw Paw Flashes, & South Haven Beacon Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Life as Performance Art

    Over the past few years, we have heard the phrases “sanctuary city” and “sanctuary state”many times.  In the US, it has become politically divisive because sanctuary cities and states have traditionally been labeled liberal or “blue states” where the Democratic Party prevails.  Depending on the circumstances, undocumented individuals, those who are in need of Read More…

Albion Recorder & Morning Star Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Clare County Review Columns Commercial-News, Penny Saver, & Sturgis Sentinel Courier-Leader, Paw Paw Flashes, & South Haven Beacon Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Mike’s Musings: Is Cracker Barrel’s new strategy, doomed?

With Congress on vacation for the entire month of August (how dare they) and very little else happening, the Cracker Barrel rebranding hit center stage in last week’s news cycle. The CEO and Marketing Manager rolled out a new contemporary design for Cracker Barrel, and it was meant with strong negativity from many people, as Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise News

Allegan Ladder Truck returns to firehouse

By Gari Voss The buzz around the firehouse on Saturday, August 23, 2025, was not just about a wonderful pancake breakfast complete with eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage or the delicious spaghetti supper that followed, but about the 1951 Ladder Truck that was returning to Allegan after spending time in other parts of the state.“This was Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise News

Council approves downtown apartments, water bill possible increase

By Gari Voss During their August 25, 2025, meeting, the Allegan City Council accepted a Block Grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to create 10 new second story apartments in Downtown Allegan, approved a budget alignment to complete the handicap ramps around town, and heard a plan for extending the Social District. Extra Read More…