It is the time of year when we start drawing up our list of New Years Resolutions. Adults do it, even if they know they will shatter everyone of them by the first week in January.  Many of us will trot…

I never thought I would be writing about 2024. When I was a youngster, the year 2000 seemed so futuristic, let alone 2024. We are almost a quarter of the way through the 21st Century, yet my mind always reverts…

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – Paw Paw boys basketball team ended a three-game losing streak and improved its record to 3-6 on Dec. 23 with a 50-30 win over Allegan at the Parchment Holiday ShowcaseEarlier in the week, Paw…

Passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at his home in Bloomingdale. Jim was born June 5, 1944 in St Joseph, the son of Louis and Angeline (Fello) Scherer. He farmed in Keeler where he was married to Andrea Springsteen and…

Carole M. (Long) Schaefer, 89, of Lawton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Vineyard Assisted Living, Kalamazoo. She was born Dec. 28, 1933, in Chicago, the daughter of Martin Long and Stephanie (Rainie) Long.Carole had many hobbies…

Richard Dean Rivers died Dec. 12, 2023, from the effects of cancer. He was surrounded by family members and Hospice caregivers at his home in Laurium, MI where he had lived for the past three years. Previously he had lived…

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – The West Michigan Regional Veterans’ Treatment Court on Thursday, Dec. 21, saw its 50th graduate of the program, a Marine Corps Reserve, who had fallen into drugs and alcohol.Michael Ryan left the Marine…

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer  WAVERLY TWP. – A 33-year-old Mattawan man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 28-year-old Decatur woman. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office said the man intentionally hit the woman with a pickup…

My father would sometimes say the least expected and most odd things. For example, if we were driving somewhere, enjoying a mild April Sunday on country backroads, he might say, “I hope I don’t hit a skunk.” Or, if it…

The story of Christmas is ever evolving for you and I. The biblical story never changes but your story is always changing. How we celebrate and view the story of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus may change throughout…

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWRENCE – Lawrence girls basketball team won 36-30 over Hartford on Dec. 15 with junior Brooklyn Remelts scoring 15 points on five 3-pointers.Sophomore Carolina Mancera had eight points and sophomore Kaylin Leyva six points.Lawrence won on Dec.…

Marking the 44th year, Christmas baskets for 91 families have been prepared by members of the Paw Paw Lions Club and others, as part of the club’s Community Christmas Baskets program. The baskets, located at the Paw Paw Lions Club…

By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW TWP. – Authorities are investigating a shooting Saturday, Dec. 16, in Paw Paw Township that injured two Van Buren County residents, according to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Van Buren…

COMSTOCK – On Tuesday, Dec. 12, an incident occurred at Comstock High School during a junior varsity and varsity boys’ basketball game that led the building to be placed in a lockdown.In a press release, the Lawrence School District said,…

By John RaffelCorrespondent GOBLES – Gobles varsity wrestling team took second place at the Grover Invitational on Saturday.Tigers wrestling sent 10 varsity wrestlers to the Grover Invite at Concord. Eight of them made it to the finals and eight of…

Dean Franklin Basinger, 70, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away on December 9, 2023 surrounded by his family.He was born in San Diego, CA in 1953 to Evelyn and Galen Basinger. Dean attended Sturgis High School (MI) before studying Biology…

Roger Kroshinsky, age 91, of Portage, passed away December 4, 2023. He was born October 18, 1932 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to the late Edward F. and Lillian Elsie (Modro) Kroshinsky.Roger was the only boy of five children and became…

Marcia Morene (Jordan) Huggett, 84, of Paw Paw, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. She was born April 22, 1939, in Assyria, Mich., the daughter of James Robert Jordan and Emma Ruth (Jenkins) Jordan.On Feb.…

Rosemary (Notestine) Wright, 94, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Maple Lake Assisted Living, Paw Paw. She was born Nov. 12, 1929, in Sturgis, MI, the daughter of Ivan Notestine and Grace (McGary) Notestine.Rosemary loved…

Lawrence (Larry) Lee De Pierre, 64, of Paw Paw, passed away Dec. 6, 2023, following a long illness. Larry was born Oct. 16, 1959, in Kalamazoo, Mich., the son of John (Jack) De Pierre and Beverly (Forney) Page.Larry was self-employed,…