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The Island City Weekly - Monday, October 5, 2026

Issue #1 ·

Local news for Plainwell, Michigan. News from Wednesday, Sept. 23, to Saturday, Oct. 3; events Monday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 11.

This week in Plainwell

  • Ransom District Library hosts a Plainwell City Council candidate forum Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Michigan's required in-person early voting period runs Saturday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 1. (Ransom District Library; Michigan Secretary of State election calendar (PDF))
  • Monthly bagged leaf and brush pickup and fall loose-leaf collection both start Monday, Oct. 5. (City calendar)
  • City Council's Sept. 28 agenda included an ordinance that would open a seat for one more resident on the Parks & Tree Commission, plus $6,320 for Sherwood Park retaining wall repairs. Minutes aren't posted yet, so we'll report the votes when they are. (Sept. 28 Council agenda (PDF); Sept. 28 Council packet (PDF))

City & Government

City Council's Monday, Sept. 28 agenda included these items. Minutes aren't posted yet, so the outcomes are still to come. (Sept. 28 Council agenda (PDF))

  • Public Safety accreditation: The agenda included a presentation on MACP agency accreditation for the Department of Public Safety.
  • Parks & Tree Commission: Ordinance 409 would remove the Department of Public Works superintendent as a commission member. A City memo says that frees a seat for a city resident; the commission has approved the change. (Sept. 28 Council packet (PDF))
  • Sherwood Park: Council was set to consider buying $6,320 in blocks from Oldcastle Infrastructure to repair the retaining wall next to the trestle bridge.
  • Public Works equipment: Also up were a $5,000 blanket purchase order with Ed's Truck Repair and pre-approval to buy a used one-ton dump truck for up to $30,000, replacing a truck that will be auctioned.
  • Generators: The agenda listed a 3-year, $22,389.67 maintenance contract with Cummins Sales and Service covering the City's seven backup generators.
  • Pumpkins in the Park: Council was set to consider the event permit for Saturday, Oct. 10.

Council's next regular meeting is Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. (Sept. 28 Council agenda (PDF))

Voting basics: City of Plainwell voters vote at City Hall, 211 N. Main St., on Tuesday, Nov. 3; polls close at 8 p.m. You can register and vote at the City Clerk's Office through 8 p.m. on Election Day with proof of residency. Find your assigned early voting site at Michigan.gov/Vote. (City Election FAQs; Michigan Secretary of State: Early voting; Michigan Secretary of State election calendar (PDF))

Schools

  • The varsity girls golf team set a conference record for the lowest conference tournament team score, 346, the district said. The team plays next at regionals at Bedford Valley. (Plainwell Community Schools)
  • Families of 3rd through 5th graders interested in Battle of the Books, a reading quiz competition, can attend an informational meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Gilkey Elementary media center. (Plainwell Community Schools)
  • Nominations for the 2027 Athletic Hall of Fame are open through Oct. 31. (Plainwell Community Schools)

Business

No verified items this week.

Events

  • Mon, Oct. 5 - Bagged leaf and brush pickup begins citywide. City rules call for kraft-paper yard bags (50 pounds max) and brush (2 to 10 feet long, under 4 inches thick, stacked in one direction) to be set out separately the Friday through Sunday before pickup. The next monthly pickup is Monday, Nov. 2. Set bags and brush out Fri, Oct. 30, through Sun, Nov. 1. (City calendar; City Yard Waste rules)
  • Mon, Oct. 5 - Loose-leaf collection begins. Rake leaves into the street along the curb, not onto the curb lawn. Residents on M-89 must bag their leaves instead. Questions: Department of Public Works, 269-685-9363. (City calendar; City Yard Waste rules)
  • Tue, Oct. 6 - Plainwell City Council candidate forum, 7 to 8 p.m., Ransom District Library, 180 S. Sherwood Ave. It will be livestreamed on the library's Facebook page and posted to YouTube. (Ransom District Library)
  • Wed, Oct. 7 - Sourdough Starter 101, 7 to 8 p.m., Ransom District Library. Making and caring for a starter, with samples. (Ransom District Library)
  • Thu, Oct. 8 - Varsity boys soccer vs. Otsego (Senior Night), 6:30 p.m., Streidl Field. (PHS Athletics)
  • Fri, Oct. 9 - Homecoming football vs. Sturgis, 7 p.m., Streidl Field, Plainwell High School. (PHS Athletics)
  • Sat, Oct. 10 - Volunteer tree planting, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Help plant 40 trees downtown and in the New Orchard neighborhood with ReLeaf Michigan and the Consumers Energy Foundation. Meet at City Hall, 211 N. Main St. Free; families welcome; rain or shine. RSVPs appreciated at releafmichigan.org/RSVP. (City of Plainwell)
  • Sat, Oct. 10 - Pumpkins in the Park, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hicks Park, 101 Allegan St. (City calendar)
  • Fri, Oct. 9, through Sun, Oct. 11 - Bulk trash set-out. The City calendar lists Saturday, Oct. 10. The City's rules allow setting items out after 3 p.m. Friday, and they must be at the curb before 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12. Republic Services covers each street only once, and it may take a full week to reach the whole city. Large items only, up to 3 cubic yards per home. (City calendar; City Bulk Trash rules)
  • Sun, Oct. 11 - Dungeons & Dragons 5e (adults), 1 to 4 p.m., Ransom District Library. New and experienced players welcome; please register. (Library calendar)

Public Safety

No verified items this week.

Community

  • The Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project's online enrollment for holiday assistance is open through Nov. 13. (Plainwell Community Schools; Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project)
  • Ransom District Library's Plainwell Fall Photography Contest takes entries through Oct. 31, one photo per category: Landscape/Nature, Portrait (people and animals), and Black & White. Rules and forms are at the library and on its website. (Ransom District Library)

From The Island City Weekly

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Corrections

None this week.

Sources

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