Pauline E. Kelly of Portland, passed away on February 25, 2026 at the age of 82. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes .

Portland, Michigan — situated at the confluence of the Grand River and the Looking Glass River — owes its existence to the very waterways that now pose periodic threats. The proximity of homes and historic downtown buildings to the riverbanks is no accident; it reflects the economic realities and settlement patterns of the 19th century, when rivers were integral to survival for growing communities. Why Early Builders Chose the Riverbanks In the mid-1800s, rivers functioned as

Last week we told you about Portland native Allie Hickling advancing to the Top 20 in the Ms. Health & Fitness Competition.  You can find that story HERE .   Hickling has now reached the top 5 in the contest.  The current round of voting ends Thursday, March 5 th  at 10:00 PM EST.  The winner of this round will be named as the contest winner.   You can learn more about Hickling and cast your vote at https://mshealthandfit.com/2026/allie-hickling .

Although the weatherman is only calling for a high of 37 degrees in Portland today, Spring will be here before we know it.   If you manage a local business where Spring is one of your key seasons, we have advertising options to get your message in front of local readers as soon as next week.  Plus, our ad plans are affordable while at the same time supporting local news coverage right here in Portland.   Confirm you new ad before the end of March, and we will offer you a free

The St. Patrick's Varsity Girls basketball team ended their regular seasons on Thursday. The Shamrocks lost a close game to the Bath Bees after they went on a late game run, 32-39. The Shamrocks improved their defensive sets and took the shots they needed, but fell a bit short at the end of regulation. Gracelyn Rockey scored 11 points and had 4 rebounds. Macie Smith scored 9 points and had 4 rebounds. Lily Sandborn had 6 points and 4 steals, and Marian Davlin brought in 7 reb