John L. Swarts, age 76 of Clare, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2022 at his home in Clare. On June 12, 1946, John was born one of two sons to John and Elva (Wilson) Swarts at their family home in Harrison, MI. John has been a Central Michigan resident his entire life, having been born Read More…
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Obituary: Kenneth Leo Lyons
Kenneth Leo Lyons, age 75, of Harrison passed away peacefully Friday, July 15, 2022, at his home under the care of Compassus Hospice.Per Ken’s wishes, cremation will take place and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.Ken was born on November 6, 1946, in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan, son of Frances Read More…
Postcard from the Pines: Put these on your to-do list
We’re going to talk turkey this week, and I don’t mean the tasty birds. We’re going to talk shingles, and here I do not mean the kind on your roof. I mean the “shingles doesn’t care” kind of shingles. Almost everyone has seen those commercials for the vaccine. We all chuckle and promise ourselves that Read More…
Faces in the Crowd: Mark and Deb Hammer
Stay busy, stay positive, and enjoy all of life’s blessings. That’s more or less how Winterfield Township residents Mark and Deb Hammer live life these days.After spending much of their careers working for Michigan Gas Storage, the couple has spent the last 8 years enjoying retirement. Which means spending time with the kids and grandkids. Read More…
County’s unemployment at 4.7 percent
By John RaffelCorrespondent The unemployment figure in June for Osceola County, was at 4.7 percent,according to data released recently by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB).Figures for July are expected to be announced soon.Of the state’s 83 counties, Osceola is ranked tied for 22nd with Cheboygan and St. Joseph.Livingston County has the Read More…
Osceola County working on budget
By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Osceola County commissioner Tim Michell said the board is continuing to work on the county’s 2023 calendar year budget.“Our fiscal year is January 1 to December 31,” Michell said. “We try to get it voted in by November or sooner if we can.”Commissioners voted to contact with Middle Michigan Development Read More…
Gas prices continue downward trend
By John RaffelCorrespondent Gas prices have come down below $4 a gallon in Osceola and other neighboring counties with speculation it may or may not continue to decline.Triple A reported the national average was at $3.878 a gallon as of Thursday. The state average was $3.865.Osceola County was at $3.892 per gallon.The state average compares Read More…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorRenaissance“Janice Bleil made a pile right in the middle of Belle Isle,” kids teased my mom growing up in 1940s Detroit, last name from a father she never saw.I saw 982-acre Belle Isle in 1984 crewing for Mitchell Miner and Karen Hipkiss riding tandem in a 24-hour bicycle race till they crashed near Read More…
Pickleball pop
Pickleball’s popularity, per Sports and Fitness Industry Association spokesperson Laur Futterman, makes it the fastest-growing sport in America, as witness players such as the forehand-whacking aficianado pictured here on the eight courts at Douglas’s Schultz Park. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)
Developers complain, Douglas ZA out
By Scott SullivanEditorNick Wikar has been fired as Douglas planner and zoning administrator, leaving both the city and neighbor Saugatuck seeking new help at that position.Wikar, who replaced Lisa Imus as planner/ZA in March 2020, left after an Aug. 15 city council meeting at which some developers and residents criticized him for being overly-stringent and Read More…