Constance (Connie) Louise Mallek-Fedewa, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on October 6, 2026. She was born Constance Louise Dembowski on October 13, 1944, in Lansing, Michigan. Devoted to God and family, Connie was always ready to help anyone in need. She was famous for her incredible desserts, especially her cinnamon rolls and pies, and for leading the family in heartfelt prayers, which she wrote herself and delivered beautifully before

While we in Portland may not have as much going on as the bigger cities do, we still have plenty of news worth sharing. Here at the Beacon, our goal is “to serve as a steward of the community by educating citizens so as to encourage a more engaged and vibrant community.” From our schools and city council, to local small businesses and nonprofits, we have a lot going on in this town. I started the Beacon in August of 2017 to establish a new local news source for Portland

Scoutmaster Bryan Gehrcke says that Portland’s Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are having a fantastic year, making friends, serving their community, and learning new skills. The Boy Scout program has produced three Eagle Scouts in the past twelve months. These young men include Matthew Simon of Portland High School, Cooper Gehrcke of St. Patrick School, and Sawyer Dakin of PHS. In addition to this impressive record of Eagle Scouts, Mr. Gehrcke says the Scouts have been heavily invo

David A. Brown, who grew up in Portland and still counts it as home, has published his first children's book — and it carries a story close to the heart of anyone who has ever loved a dog. Ava's Mackinac Adventure is a children's picture book narrated by Ava, the Brown family's Yorkshire Terrier of fifteen years, who passed away this past spring. Written in the months after her loss, the book follows the curious little dog as she explores Mackinac Island — the ferry ride ov

In the northernmost reaches of Michigan, there lies a region that the locals have termed Copper Island. The entire top of the Keweenaw Peninsula is separated by Portage lake, and a canal dug in the 1800's that technically created an Island. Calumet, a town once considered for the State Capitol, is just north of Houghton and home to a new Charter Academy, Copper Island Academy. Copper Island Academy was established in 2020, with the intention of providing a new alternative t

Every day, veterans enter PTSD treatment, service members deploy, and patients begin lengthy hospitalizations. Yet many face an impossible choice: get the help they need or keep their beloved pet. For thousands of Americans, there is no safety net when a temporary crisis makes pet ownership temporarily impossible. Veterans delay treatment because they have no one to care for the dog that provides companionship and purpose. Patients decline hospitalization rather than surren

Trisha Marie is a singer-songwriter and mom right here in Portland. She recently told the Beacon, “I write and produce my songs at home. This year I became a 6x 2026 Josie Music Awards nominee, including Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. My song ‘Cowgirl Impulses’ was played on 99.5 WYCD Detroit on July 12 alongside Morgan Wallen, Zach Top and Luke Bryan, and I talked about it on ABC12's Good Morning Mid-Michigan.” Her new single, “Bad Looks Good On Me,” came out

Throughout the Summer of 2026, the Detroit Tigers held 16 youth baseball and softball camps throughout Michigan and Northern Ohio. Campers at each camp participate in skill competitions. After the final camp of the summer, campers with the top scores in these competitions are invited to the Champions Day Finals at Comerica Park. Portland’s Luke Robydek participated in the event this year Luke’s mother Michelle Robydek told the Beacon, “Luke participated with 80 other b

Barry “Bud” Russell Moyer, of Grand Ledge, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026 at the age of 93. He was born on the family farm in Eagle Township, Michigan on October 15, 1932 to Russell and Emma (Haueter) Moyer. A proud veteran, Bud served his country with honor during the Korean War assigned to the Marine Corps as a medic from 1952-1956. He worked at the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors after completing high school and retired 35 years later after having ri

Last Friday, October 2nd, the Portland Raiders traveled to Lansing Catholic and left victorious. The game started with a touchdown from Carson Spenski, putting the Raiders ahead 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. From then on, the Raiders kicked it into another gear. Spenski found the end zone twice in the second quarter, while quarterback Carson Simon threw two touchdowns — one to Kehyan Page and another to Alex Atwell. The offensive masterclass from the Raiders didn’t