Obituary: Joanne Randall
Joanne Randall, of Munith, MI, passed away at her home on March 23, 2025. Joanne was born and raised in Northwestern Iowa, the oldest daughter of Richard and Dorothy Van Voorst. She grew up on their family farm in Sioux Center, a small and close-knit community known for its expansive fields and rich Dutch heritage. […]
Outreach in Action: From A to Z (or in this case, W)—Outreach has your back
by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall Every new day brings a challenging jumble of requests, donations, referrals and more to Stockbridge Community Outreach. The agency does its work within a complex environment of scenarios, supplies, and serendipity, employing both expertise and empathy. We thought it might be fun to show some of this in puzzle […]
Tornadoes are no laughing matter
compiled by Mary Jo David According to the Storm Prediction Center, Michigan has averaged 13 tornadoes per year since 2000. Already, in 2025, the National Weather Service has confirmed 25 tornadoes across the state—almost double the state’s average . On the night of May 15, another EF1 tornado touched down in our area—too close for […]
Mobile home fire damages two homes in Pleasant Lake
Information provided by Tina Cole-Mullins and Brian Hardy On May 11, a two-alarm fire broke out at the Pleasant Lake Mobile Home Court at 11711 Bunkerhill Road in Pleasant Lake. Both Henrietta Township and Rives Township fire companies responded. The fire may have begun in a shed and then spread to the associated mobile home […]
Dear Gabbie…
“Dear Gabbie” is written with the simple hope of bringing a few smiles to your day and is not meant to replace the advice of professionals… especially your mom! Dear Gabbie: I just received a jury summons in the mail, and my heart sank when I saw it! I am not interested in serving on […]
Paws and Claws: Dogs should be tested annually for heartworms
by Cindy Anderson, DVMHeartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States. Heartworms are caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, anddamage to other organs in a dog. A dog is a […]
Rural Perspectives: The killdeer lives in areas with short vegetation
by Diane Constable The killdeer plover (Charadrius vociferus) is one of the common shorebirds. It is found in places other than a beach. It lives in various flatland areas such as short fields, lawns, parking lots and golf courses—anywhere the vegetation is not more than 1 inch. The killdeer plover gets its name from its […]
Ask an Expert: Car repair is matter of trust
by John and Theresa KightlingerHow do I know who to trust when it comes to car repairs? The definition of trust is the reliance on the integrity, strength and ability of a person or a thing. A confident expectation of something. It is a simple word with a big meaning in our world right now. […]
This area needs more ‘Pick Me…Choose Me’ volunteers
by Mary Jo David When it comes to requests for volunteering, do you align with “Grey’s Anatomy,” Nike, or Nancy Reagan? By that I mean, when you are asked to volunteer for something do you respond with an enthusiastic, “Pick Me…Choose Me!”? Or are you more likely to volunteer reluctantly with a “Just Do It” […]