1By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A strong start helped propel the Allegan boys basketball team to a win over Wyoming Lee on Tuesday, Jan. 18.The Tigers jumped out to an 18-9 advantage after one quarter and led the rest of the…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls bowling team remained unbeaten in Wolverine Conference play thanks to wins over Otsego (29-1 on Wednesday, Jan. 19) and Plainwell (30-0 on Friday, Jan. 21).In the Otsego match, the Tigers won game won…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Six long years. Make that six long years.That’s how long it had been since the Otsego boys swim & dive team had beaten Marshall in a dual meet, dating back to January 2016. That also happened…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Like brother, like sister.After watching her brother Colin advance to the finals of the Grand Rapids Civic Theater’s Ten for All playwriting competition last year, McKenna Wesseldyk decided to enter the contest this year.And earlier this…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plainwell Community Schools—like districts throughout the state—held its Board of Education meetings remotely via Zoom.It was during this time that Ann Filkins had the opportunity to observe several of the meetings.“The…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor For the past few years, Plainwell Robotics Club director Joe Gentile and others associated with the club have been working toward the goal of hosting a tournament.That goal became a reality on Saturday, Jan. 22, when…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorOn Monday, Jan. 10, the Otsego Public Schools Board of Education approved COVID-19 mitigation procedures that would require face masks inside district buildings under certain conditions.On Wednesday, Jan. 19, the first building in the district fell into…

By Gari VossSenior living for citizens over the age of 60 or 65 includes productive activities that can beaccomplished while enjoying a different pace of life. Though there may be some health issuescreeping in, seniors have found that volunteering promotes…

January 24, 2022Leslie Ballard The January 24 City Council held a lengthy Study Session prior to its meeting that included discussionitems on the Hubbard Street realignment, improved communications strategies and the future of 211 ½Trowbridge. Proposed Roundabout MDOT engineers provided…

By John Raffel Correspondent ALLEGAN – The county’s broadband action group is scheduling interviews this week with applicants for its project manager position. Seven individuals have responded to the advertisement announcing the job, county commission chairman Jim Storey announced. “The…

MCLAUGHLIN, Betty A. Otsego, MI Betty passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022 in Kalamazoo. She was born at home on October 14, 1927  to Isac and Daisy (Fouts) DeKilder, the youngest of four children. Betty enjoyed playing both card and…

Pauline “Virginia” Smith, 96, ended her long struggle with dementia early Sunday morning, January 16,2022, just 8 days short of her 97 th birthday. She had been a resident at Allegan Medical Care Communitysince her stroke in March, 2019.Virginia was…

George Evans Wesbey, Jr., age 93, of The Woodlands, Texas, passed away on January 10, 2022. Husband of the late Diane (Dee) Wesbey. He was cared for by Oasis Hospice and his loving son. George was born May 31, 1928…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—How will we respond?That’s the question Otsego girls basketball coach Tony Koshar was asking himself heading into the rivalry game against Plainwell on Friday, Jan. 14, as team was coming off its first loss of the…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor GRAND RAPIDS—It was a good day for the Allegan boys bowling team at the Comstock Park Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 15.Not only did the Tigers upend Cedar Springs by a 339-279 score in the championship match…

By Jason Wesseldyk, Sports Editor As the elementary literacy coach for Otsego Public Schools, Gina Watson is always brainstorming creative ways to encourage the district’s students to read more. And out of those brainstorming sessions comes “Let’s Get Bookin’ Around…

By Jason Wesseldyk, Sports Editor The mask requirement at Plainwell Community Schools has been extended. Following the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 17, the district published a letter to parents informing them that all students, staff members and…

By Jason Wesseldyk, Sports Editor Last call for Rhino’s Hometown Pub came on Saturday, Jan. 15. That’s when, after two decades in operation, the popular watering hole on Main Street in downtown Plainwell, closed its doors for the final time.…

SIMPSON, William F. “Billy”Otsego, MI PHOTO:AGE: 86FLAG: yes Billy Simpson of Otsego, passed away, January 11, 2022 at age 86. Born October 24, 1935 inKalkaska, the son of George and Thelma (White) Simpson, Billy moved to Otsego in 1943. Heproudly…

Coleen Joy Burrell, 62, of Allegan, MI passed away January 12, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on April 18, 1959 in Bath, New York to Keith and Norma (Snyder) Burrell. Coleen was a woman with a heart…