News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

‘Mighty Mac’ trip view was over top

By Jim Hayden Correspondent Hear ye! Hear ye! The Saugatuck Town Crier declares view Aug. 10 from the top of the Mackinac Bridge as spectacular! Art Tolsma, a 6’6” roofing business head and winner of a Felt Estate fundraising raffle in December for two tickets to travel and climb there, looked out on a clear Read More…

Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record Sports

Football Review

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorThe 2022 season included its share of challenges for the Saugatuck football team, which finished with a 3-6 record that included two forfeit losses due to injuries.Longtime Saugatuck coach Bill Dunn believes those struggles will only make the Trailblazers better this season.“Yes, we had losing season a year ago,” he said. “But Read More…

Columns Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Maggie’s Pantry

By Maggie ConklinTravel Cooking HacksOne of many things that make a good artist or cook great is the ability and desire to never stop learning. New and updated information matters.My dear husband and I have found ourselves on an island in Alaska again dragging along another couple to keep us company, occupied and entertained.Maria, homesteader Read More…

Columns Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Blue Star

By Scott SullivanEditorLight ShowClick goes camera, clique goes government, difference being shutter’s open a split second. Light passes through lens optics, body sensors articulate and transmit millions of color data points. When glass closes your mind sets up more art anarchic orders. Clicks are open, let in light; cliques are closed. Therein lies the rub.Saugatuck’s Read More…

News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Eight ex-mayors walk into a bar …

Eight former Saugatuck mayors convened after Nov. 16 after last year’s election to regale each other with laughs and memories at The Sand Bar on Butler Street not far from city hall. Shown (from left) are Russ Gardner, Barry Johnson, Mark Bekken, Ken Trester, Catherine Simon, Chris Peterson, Jane Verplank and Bill Hesse. (Photo by Read More…

News Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Ex-Mayor pleads guilty to election charge

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council member Garnet Lewis pleaded guilty via Zoom Friday before Allegan County 57th District Judge Joseph Skocelas to misdemeanor state election charges of gathering candidate petition signatures without reporting she was the circulator.Lewis agreed to a $500 fine plus $325 in court costs payable over six months, at which point further Read More…

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

Life as Performance Art

I commend publisher Mike Wilcox for keeping Michigan Newspaper Association plaques and awards gathered under past publishers Cheryl and Walt Kaechele in Allegan County News offices. It is good to appreciate others’ work.If you read articles, unless strictly business or political, in his papers it’s clear volunteer battalions make small towns tick. These people give Read More…

Allegan County News & Union Enterprise Clare County Review & Marion Press Columns Courier-Leader & Paw Paw Flashes LaFayette Sun Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record Three Rivers Commercial-News, Penny Saver, & Sturgis Sentinel

Mike’s Musings: Raid on newspaper office tramples first amendment rights

I received a phone call a couple days ago about the Marion MI newspaper office having been raided by police. Being the owner, I was a bit perplexed, because I knew of no such raid. The caller, however, was adamant that it had taken place.After calling around I was able to discern that the Marion Read More…

Columns Saugatuck/Douglas Commercial Record

Blue Star

By Scott SullivanEditorA Head“Truth has consequences,” my shrink said. “Think a head.”Ahead?“In your head.”Where you’re crazy.“Argumentative,” she jotted.I mean the future, I said. Not what agitates all you see, hear, smell, taste, cogitate …“Don’t forget ‘say’ from your mouth.”You have none in this matter.“What matters?”Ahead, I said. BackAugust 1968, bedroom windows with Indiana woods views, Read More…