On Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, celebration highlighted the Watervliet City Commissioners business meeting.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN… (Above) At the sound of the referee’s whistle, tipoff of the Watervliet and Lawrence varsity boys basketball game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on New Year’s Day came into action. Watervliet Panther Kyle Domingo-Sturgeon was pitted against Lawrence Tiger Alex Gardner in the battle of the heights. In a game that went into overtime, the Panthers fell to the Tigers, 49-45. #32 Daijahnae Hatcher (right) of the Lady Panthers shoots over the head of the d

TIME TRAVEL AT THE MUSEUM… On Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, area children had the opportunity to participate in an interactive program to learn about the Civil War era. Peter Cook, Executive Director of the North Berrien Historical Museum, portrayed a Union soldier while interpreters Sheila Schultz (left) and Carole Kiernan (right) represented the life of a soldier’s wife and a mother of soldiers serving in the Civil War. Children had the opportunity to make butter, shell corn, and

CROWNING MOMENT… 2025 Miss Watervliet, Emma Ferguson, places the crown on contestant Emma Birkhead at the Watervliet Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the high school, as she officially passes on the title during the coronation moment that names Birkhead as the new 2026 Miss Watervliet. (TCR photo by Angela Widdis) Saturday night, January 3, from the auditorium stage at the Watervliet High School, Emma Ferguson, Miss Watervliet 2025, crowned her successor during the

SWOLLEN... is the Paw Paw River in Coloma after unseasonable temperatures and rain on Sunday, during what weather outlets are calling a Bomb Cyclone. Temperatures in the 50s Sunday and high winds and snow Monday morning causing heavy snow and blizzard like conditions. (TCR photo by Amy Loshbough)

WATERVLIET ON SAFARI… Contestants for the 2026 Watervliet Blossomtime Royalty will be vying on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to find out who will be Miss and Mr. Watervliet 2026, at the conclusion of the Scholarship Pageant held in the high school auditorium. The pageant begins at 6 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m. These young women and men will travel from Nairobi to Watervliet where this safari-theme contest meets the stage. This year’s hopefuls to represent the community of Wat

EDITOR’S NOTE: Now that we are ushering in the New Year, please take a few minutes to recall all of our relatives, friends and neighbors who died in 2025.

Watervliet Charter Township Board held their monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. It was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by township supervisor, Bob Wallace. All members of the board were in attendance. The township office will be closed December 24 and 25 along with December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026.

FOOD DRIVE SUCCESS! The Living Water Food Pantry housed at Watervliet Free Methodist Church received another blessing from the Watervliet High School Student Council. They conducted a food drive that brought in 1,013 items to be donated to the community food pantry. Pantry staff is beyond grateful for these wonderful young students that have the heart to help others. Way to go Panthers! (Contributed photo)

WATERVLIET HIGH SCHOOL… Congratulations to their 2025 November Students of the Month! These students were chosen in recognition of their hard work, leadership, and positive impact on the school community and for showing what Panther Pride looks like every single day. Pictured (from the left): Giovanni Ayala (12th), Cadia Raines (9th), David Huff (9th), Lily Collins (10th), Kylin Blackston (11th), Mackenzie Webster (11th), and Kevin Johnson (10th). Not pictured is Mark Birmele