Week 5 was a thriller between the Portland Raiders and the Lakewood Vikings. This was a game that you couldn’t take your eyes off of, and the fans showed up. Covering this game was truly a pleasure, as it felt like a playoff-like atmosphere. Both schools’ student sections were on their feet and loud for all four quarters. Lakewood had the first possession of the game and was forced to punt. Not too long after, Portland was also forced to punt. Both defenses came out on fire

Corporal Daniel Robert Swift Lathers, 39, of Kyle, Texas, passed away on Monday, September 21st, 2026, following a decade long battle with a traumatic brain injury sustained while serving in the United States Marine Corps. Dan was born on February 3rd, 1987 in Traverse City, Michigan. He graduated from Portland High School in 2005, and went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Texas State University. Dan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. He serv

Get those costumes ready! Our Hall…oween Event is coming to Portland High School on Wednesday, October 28 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. We are looking forward to a fun evening for our students and families, and you can help us get ready in two ways: Sign up now using the QR code on the attached flyer. Registering early helps us plan for how many families will be joining us. Donate candy if you are able! Candy donations can be dropped off at any school main office. Every bag helps us

PFCU has been named the top credit union in Michigan on the Forbes 2026 America's Best-In-State Credit Unions list, earning the No. 1 ranking among the 11 Michigan credit unions recognized this year. The annual rankings, developed by Forbes and market research firm Statista, recognize credit unions that excel in member satisfaction, trust, customer service, digital services, financial advice, and fee transparency. This year, 11 Michigan credit unions earned a spot on the li

On Wednesday, the Portland High School boys tennis team defeated Ionia 8-0. Singles: No. 1 - Tyler Clark, Portland def. Jackson Fuller, Ionia, 6-2, 6-3 No. 2 - Joshua Seavey, Portland def. Lucas McCoy, Ionia, 6-2, 7-5 No. 3 - Tanner Brownell, Portland def. Sam Montgomery, Ionia, 6-1, 6-0 No. 4 - Luke Seavey, Portland def. BrieAnna Spaans, Ionia, 6-2, 6-0 Doubles: No. 1 - Sam Nobis - Cooper Thayer, Portland def. Owen Yokum - Zayne Mills-Huhn, Ionia, 6-0, 6-0 No. 2 - Gage L

On November 3rd, residents within the Portland school district will have the opportunity to cast their vote for three of five candidates for the Portland Public schools Board of Education. The five candidates are Angela Shinaver, Douglas A. Logel, Jr., Roy Atherton, Greg Smith, and Nathan Smith. In the last few weeks, The Portland Beacon has put out multiple calls to our readers to submit their questions for the candidates. On September 17th, the Beacon sent the final 1

Satisfied with a life well lived, Vic Voisinet passed away September 18, 2026, peacefully in his home. Dad was born in DeWitt on New Year’s Eve 1943, disrupting his parents’, Victor and Ethel Voisinet’s, party plans. Every year on his birthday, Dad would like to remind us that he always wished he would have waited a day to be born so he could be a year younger. He, along with his ten brothers and sisters, later moved to what is still a Voisinet homestead in St. Johns. Dad’s l

The Raiders faced Lansing Christian on Monday. Portland - 8, Lansing Christian School - 0, Singles: No. 1 - Tyler Clark, Portland def. JB Park, Lansing Christian School, 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 No. 2 - Joshua Seavey, Portland def. Eliseo Brown, Lansing Christian School, 6-4, 6-2 No. 3 - Tanner Brownell, Portland def. Collin Dennis, Lansing Christian School, 6-2, 6-4 No. 4 - Luke Seavey, Portland def. Brynnlee Davidson, Lansing Christian School, 6-0, 6-1 Doubles: No. 1 - Sam Nobis -

On Thursday, September 17th the Portland St. Patrick Shamrocks travelled to Breckenridge to take on the 2-1 Breckenridge Huskies. The Huskies had come off a hard fought loss against Montabella, but the Shamrocks were loaded for bear and defeated Breckenridge 49-14. In the first quarter, Emmet Fandel began is freak show with a 57 yard scamper, and his brother Aiden punched it in for the two point conversion. Emmet again broke free later, on a 69 yard run and Tyler Thelen kic

A rivalry was renewed this past Friday night as the Portland Raiders took on the Ionia Bulldogs, one year after Ionia forfeited the game. To call this game a rivalry isn’t very fitting, as the Raiders dominated on both sides of the ball for all four quarters. The Bulldogs started off the first quarter with a completed pass that appeared to be an attempt at a hook-and-ladder play, which ultimately turned into a turnover early in the game. Ionia’s defense seemed to be showing