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

State Rep. Gina Johnsen welcomed Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir, Ionia County Commission Chair Terry Frewen, and Pastor Donald Eason, president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), to the House Floor for the governor’s annual State of the State address.   Johnsen said she was honored to host leaders actively serving their communities and focused on strengthening families and supporting public safety. She added that hearing directly from community leaders

The Portland girls wrestling team will once again be represented at the MHSAA Individual State Finals, as senior  Lilli Teachworth  and sophomore  Georgia Stahl  earned qualifying spots at Sunday’s regional tournament held at Warren Mott High School. The state finals take place March 6–7 at Ford Field. Six Portland wrestlers competed in the regional tournament, as one of the top 32 wrestlers in Michigan in their weight classes. Each tournament hosted at one of four statewide

The Portland Raiders boys wrestling team entered the postseason with clear goals and high aspirations. As with any successful program, countless hours of hard work and preparation laid the foundation for what would become an impressive run.   The Raiders began their postseason journey on February 11 at DeWitt High School, competing in the District Championship against DeWitt. Portland delivered a dominant performance, claiming the District title in commanding fashion with a 5

The MHSAA boys basketball playoffs kicked off this week across Michigan, and both the Raiders and the Shamrocks picked up wins in the district semifinals.   The Raiders traveled to Belding to play host Belding on Wednesday night.  Portland defeated Belding 58-36.  On the other side of that district, Ionia defeated Central Montcalm 57-45.   The Shamrocks traveled to Fowler to take on Vestaburg on Wednesday.  St. Patrick won that game 52-49.  You can find the Bleacher Denizen w

Vicki Lynn Richar, a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026.   Vicki was born on October 26, 1951, to Robert and Florence Hoppes. She lived her life with warmth, humor, and a deep love for the simple joys that bring people together. She treasured time spent with family and friends and was happiest when surrounded by those she loved most. She was preceded in death