The second annual Saugatuck Dunes State Park Clean Up April 11 drew 50 volunteers, almost double last year’s numbers, to fill three 64-gallon trash bins with garbage collected on 13 miles of official trails plus entire Lake Michigan beach. Saugatuck Brewing Co. and the Outdoor Discovery Center again co-sponsored the event, with many volunteers coming […]
News
Alliance outlines marina-rejection plan
By Scott Sullivan Editor The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance Monday announced a legal strategy to stop a marina proposed for what members call “the Wild Heart of Saugatuck.” At a press conference in the Old School House History Center, Alliance president David Swan said the 501c3 land-preservation group has: Been joined by the Gun Lake […]
Pedestrian-friendly Blue Star is project aim
By Scott Sullivan Editor Work has begun on Douglas’ state-funded Blue Star Highway project from Center Street north to Main Street. Construction, which got underway April 12, will reduce the highway from three to two lanes, with its west (Lake Michigan) side converted to a landscaped median and 10-foot-wide non-motorized path. All existing traffic patterns […]
Icy weather fuels need for fire response
Nothing like snow and ice to keep firefighters busy. Last weekend’s weather saw the Saugatuck Township Fire district respond to 21 calls for assistance, said IT coordinator Erik Kirchert, the most serious and resource-demanding a structure fire Saturday on Riverside Drive in Saugatuck city Saturday. The department was dispatched at 7:32 p.m. on reports that […]
Douglas police aid may have costs attached
By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Council members apprised Saugatuck peers last week that Douglas officers on the cities’ soon-to-end joint police force would be willing to consider responding to certain types of emergency calls in Saugatuck. But to do so free? That may be too much. Saugatuck voted Feb. 26 to exit its 20-year […]
Retired judge, wife sue paper for defamation
By Scott Sullivan Editor A retired Allegan County judge and his wife are suing Perspective Media Corp., doing business as The Local Observer, for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Saugatuck Township resident Stephen Sheridan, a district court judge from 1991 until 2008, and his wife Tanya filed papers April 9 in the county’s […]
Help plan state park activities
By Scott Sullivan Editor The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites the public to a Saugatuck Dunes State Park general management plan meeting Thursday, April 26, in Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road, from 2 to 4 p.m. The DNR’s Parks & Recreation Division is developing a Phase 2 Plan for the 1,000-acre Lake Michigan […]
Douglas eyes key land and leader shifts
By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas City Manager Bill LeFevere updated council Monday on projects ranging from its Wade’s Bayou marina to DPW relocation to finding an owner/tenant for vacant Haworth plant to his own successor. LeFevere, manager since 2010, plans to retire next year. Among challenges he and the city face are the City of […]
Students learn, relax in new yoga class
By Olivia VanKampen SHS Freshman A new yoga program has been introduced by Saugatuck High School physical education teacher Sherri Austin. Its goal is to help students become stronger physically and mentally. So far students love it. Community member and yoga enthusiast Ron Collins approached then principal (now superintendent of schools) Tim Travis and Austin […]
County seeks to extend 911 surcharge
By Ryan Lewis Staff Writer Allegan County voters in August will not only see tax proposals for senior services and road maintenance. Also on the primary ballot will be a measure that would continue the special surcharge that funds 911 Central Dispatch. State law now allows counties to set the surcharge as high as $3 […]