News

BY JIM HAYDEN CORRESPONDENT Fennville’s outgoing mayor acknowledged challenges the city’s faced recently and thanked the community for support. Mayor Dan Rastall led his last regular commission meeting Monday, Nov. 7 election eve. He did not run again in that…

BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR Not every Douglas resident was thrilled by council OK’ing deer harvesting on 17 city acres north of Wiley Road west of Northern Lights Condominiums. Mike and Holly Widdes, who live nearby, voiced disappointment in their elected…

By Scott SullivanEditorNot every Douglas resident was thrilled by council OK’ing deer harvesting on 17 city acres north of Wiley Road west of Northern Lights Condominiums.Mike and Holly Widdes, who live nearby, voiced disappointment in their elected representatives’ decision —…

One year after claiming the third Division 2 state championship in program history, the Otsego girls cross country team secured another podium finish at the 2023 State Finals on Saturday, Nov. 4.The Bulldogs placed second to Grand Rapids Christian, with…

Landen Yocum (below) and Grace Blanchard are two of eight Otsego High School seniors participating in Career Pathways. (Photos provided) By Jason WesseldykSports EditorHow can we help our students be better prepared for life after high school?That question led to…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorTwo parcels of land along the Kalamazoo River that total nearly 15 acres have been made available by the City of Plainwell for housing development.The city, in conjunction with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, launched the request…

By Gari Voss It took 33 years of active service in the Army then another 20+ years as a Department of the Army civilian helicopter flight instructor before Rodney L. “Sande” Sangsland decided it was time to retire.As was reported…

By Scott SullivanEditor A quiet country night in Laketown Township burst into flames, explosions, emergency lights everywhere late Friday into early Saturday.“It was a barn fire,” Graafschap Fire Chief Doug DenBleyker said, near the 140th Avenue/63rd Street corner. “Guy had…

It’s time again for this newspaper’s annual Christmas Wish program. In the next few weeks we are asking readers that find themselves or their family in a dire situation to write us and in detail, tell us what you or…

By John BriceCorrespondent The LaFayette City Council met on Monday, November 6th of 2023 at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Agricultural Center at the ALFA building in LaFayette. In attendance were Mayor Kenneth Vines, Councilman Terry G. Mangram, Councilman David…

A Chambers County jury found Casey Smith guilty of Capital Murder for the 2016 killing of his uncle, John Smith. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before delivering their decision.The murder occurred seven years ago when 38-year-old Casey…

By John BriceCorrespondent Mayor of Smiths Station F.L. “Bubba” Copeland committed suicide during the afternoon hours of Friday, November 3rd of 2023. According to a post on the official facebook page for Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigations “On November 3rd…

Safe Trick-or-Treating was held Tuesday, Oct. 31, at downtown Paw Paw businesses. Despite the 35 degree weather and periods of snow, it didn’t deter youngsters from visiting the businesses. New this year, the Van Buren County Courts offered trick-or-treats and…

The Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department responded to two large fires early Tuesday morning, Oct. 31. The first fire, a barn fire, was called in at approximately 2 a.m., according to Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim DeGroff. Responding…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three hotly-contested races for Three Rivers City Commission ended up with the incumbents pulling out relatively close re-elections. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, unofficial results from Three Rivers with 100% of precincts reporting…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Voters in Three Rivers, Constantine Township and Burr Oak will be making vital decisions at the ballot box during the Tuesday, Nov. 7 general election.Three Rivers residents will be voting in four…

By Dennis Volkert “Crescendo! 150 years of Music in Sturgis” premieres at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.It is a one-hour documentary celebrating the community’s history of music, beginning with early pioneer days through the present.“Crescendo!”…

At its Oct. 11 meeting, Sturgis City Commission approved a bid from Michigan Demolition & Excavation of Okemos for removal of structures at 26846 State Line Road, for $14,900.City of Sturgis Economic Development Corporation, which controls the land, has allocated…

Sturgis City Commission in September approved a resolution to control municipal health care expense. Public Act 152, known as Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, limits the amount public employers may pay for government employee medical benefits, according to city officials. The legislation provides a…

A lot of people in the Marion area probably don’t know much about MOTA Executive Director Staci Hitts.And for that matter, a lot of folks probably don’t know that much about MOTA – the Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority.MOTA is the…