News
Saugatuck City Manager Heise resigns
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Manager Ryan Heise has resigned for “personal reasons and opportunities for professional development” on heels of an unexplained three-week absence.“It became widely known six months ago,” said Mayor Lauren Stanton, “that Ryan had intentions to relocate…
STR freeze plan may draw heat
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck short-term rental discussions may come to a head Thursday, Feb. 29, when city council weighs placing a 6-month moratorium on new rental licenses in the R-1 Residential district.Council’s workshop last Wednesday brought a spirited crowd to debate…
City discusses Hubbard Street parking lot, 4-day work weeks
Hubbard Street parking lot. Photo by Julie Hotchkiss. By Gari Voss The City of Allegan Council spent time wrestling through the Study Session and Regular Council meeting balancing needs and opportunities related to special funding. As the Council heard the…
Only 980 residents take advantage of early voting
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Voting in the presidential primary during the state’s firstventure into early voting yielded sparse participation in the county.“The low turnout set off alarm bells for the budgets of local governments that must staff polls with…
Construction manager takes part in Hillside activities
Every once in a while, a community member steps up and becomes a integral part of a school. Steve McCaskey, a Project Superintendent for Owen, Ames, Kimball, has gone above and beyond his duties for the construction company and become…
Group to address county’s lack of housing
Led by a coalition of non-profits and government entities including Allegan County Community Foundation, Community Action of Allegan County, Allegan Area ESA, United Way of Ottawa and Allegan County, OnPoint, and Allegan County government, Bowen National Research was commissioned to…
Almena Township Board asks for Supervisor’s resignation
With no contact from the Almena Township Supervisor Bill VanTassel to the Almena Township Board since early last December, the Almena Township Board at its Wednesday, Feb. 21, meeting, approved a resolution requesting his resignation. Township board members are shown…
Metzger named new probate judge
Susan Metzger LANSING – On Feb. 13, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Susan Metzger to the Van Buren County Probate Court. It was one of four appointments announced by the governor.Metzger is a solo practitioner with a primary practice of domestic…
Paw Paw Township receives MSHDA grant
By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Newly appointed Paw Paw Township Supervisor Tom Palenick announced on Monday, Feb. 26, that Paw Paw Township was the recipient of a recent MSHDA grant Under the Housing Readiness program. Palenick had applied…
Nearly 20 fire departments battle late Feb. 25, blaze near Marcellus
The late Sunday night, Feb. 25, structure fire at 51540 M-40 Highway, Marcellus, that destroyed Tri-Star Molding facility, a custom plastics injection molding company, saw nearly 20 area fire departments from two counties battle the blaze. Paw Paw and Mattawan…
Township Board approves funds for new fire department equipment
PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Township Board at its Feb. 12 meeting, approved $15,000 to the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of new equipment.Township board members also approved a $1,000 for employee township apparel purchase.Township Clerk…
Candidates make their case at forum
Probate Court Judge Paul Story answers a question at the candidate forum. By John BriceCorrespondent Political candidates running for local office in the upcoming March 5th Alabama GOP primary were given the opportunity to address voters at a public forum…
Sturgis schools operating millage request fails
A ballot proposal for an operating millage at Sturgis Public Schools was rejected by voters Tuesday in Michigan’s primary election. The measure failed, 54% to 46%. The proposal would have allowed the school district to levy the statutory rate, not…
Presidential primary recap: Millage increases shot down, many take part in early voting
A “Vote Here” sign outside Riverside Church in Three Rivers shows the entrance to where residents in the city were able to vote during Tuesday’s presidential primary election. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews Director ST. JOSEPH COUNTY —…
White Pigeon receives funds for demolition of Tasty Nut Shop building
The Tasty Nut Shop building in White Pigeon is slated to be demolished this year, with the Village of White Pigeon recently receiving a $578,556 grant from the state to complete demolition work on the Civil War-era building. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS |…
County to begin terminating architect’s contract for Centreville courts project
COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONShawn Parshall of architectural firm TowerPinkster addressed the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in public comment at Tuesday’s meeting prior to discussion of the county possibly terminating their contract with the firm for a courts building…
Clare will submit grant for new police equipment, okays SCADA purchase
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Following a Public Hearing Monday (with no public comment) the Clare City Commission approved a motion to submit an application for a grant from USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) that would pay 55 percent of the…
Moolenaar honors fallen veterans
Congressman John Moolenaar recently presented certificates to the families of fallen soldiers including one from Clare. He said, “Today, I had the privilege of presenting military honors to the families of the late Kenneth Fink of Clare (photo) and the…
Primary election to select presidential candidates next Tuesday
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent If you are planning to cast your primary ballot the old-fashioned way, Tuesday is the day to do it at your township or city headquarters.If not, you can still take advantage of early voting, or casting an…
Faces in the Crowd: TeBos Family Farm – Ken and Carol TeBos
There has been a transition with family farms for many decades. Dairy farming has slowly, and not so slowly, accelerated from small family farms milking a small number of cows to milking several hundred and some milking several thousand or…
