Dean passed away peacefully at his home in Portland, Michigan with his beloved wife Susie Smith at his side. Dean was born on June 6, 1939 the third child of Carl and Reva (Groves) Ball. He followed brothers Wayne and Gail with little sister Joyce completing the family. Dean grew up in Maple Rapids, Michigan and had endless happy stories to tell about his childhood with the local kids having great adventures. It was in Maple Rapids where Dean met and fell in love with his

Local Soccer Communities Come Together to Raise Awareness, Honor Survivors, and Support Those Affected by Breast Cancer. Local soccer players, families, and community members will come together under the lights on September 22, 2026 at Unity Field for a special Breast Cancer Awareness Soccer Game carrying the powerful message “Kick for a Cure.” The event is being organized to bring both communities of Lakewood and Portland together in support of those whose lives have bee

PFCU Credit Union recently celebrated Member Appreciation by recognizing the people who make the credit union’s success possible: its members. As part of the week-long celebration, PFCU awarded prizes to 20 randomly selected members as a token of appreciation for their loyalty and trust. “Everything we do starts with our members,” said Michele Makley, President and CEO of PFCU. “As a member-owned financial cooperative, our members are not just customers, they are owners. O

School boards in Michigan have numerous responsibilities in overseeing local education. Ultimately, they are tasked with ensuring the effective operation of local school districts. These responsibilities include: · Policy Development · Budget Management · Curriculum Oversight · Superintendent Oversight · Community Engagement On November 3rd, residents within the Portland school district will have the opportunity to cast their vote for three o

Daniel Lynn Beech was born January 13, 1949, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, to Betty and Walter Beech. He grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland High School in 1967. Shortly after graduation, Dan began working at Fisher Body, where he worked for 30 years before retiring. Dan married the love of his life on September 19, 1970, after famously proposing with a pull tab from a beer can. Together they built more than five decades of memories and raised their

The stadium filled up quickly with football-hungry fans this past Thursday night as the town of Portland was ecstatic for some Portland Raiders football. Portland took on league opponent Sexton early in the first quarter, but the Raiders struggled to open anything up offensively. It appeared that Sexton’s defensive line had their number. Unfortunately for Sexton, the first quarter was about all they had going for them, as Portland dominated the next three quarters of the ga

A Place where Hobbyists Create, Learn and Connect For Jacklin Blodgett, The Crafted Scout is much more than a shop. It’s a place where creativity comes to life, skills are shared, and people can gather around a common love of making things. Jacklin brings a background in community work to her business. When she opened The Crafted Scout, she saw an opportunity to provide more than craft supplies — she wanted to create a welcoming place where hobbyists could learn, connect

The Portland Cruisers will host a Poker Run on Sunday, September 13th. The event begins at 11:00 AM at Portland Party Store and ends at 4:00 PM at the Bogue Flats. The Portland Cruisers meets every Thursday from May to the end of August. The group was started in 2005 and is group of people that love cars and enjoy cruising. The group is completely nonprofit and we donate everything we make from out events and shows. In the last 13 years they have donated almost $50,000

PFCU Foundation is proud to announce the opening of the 2026 fall grant application cycle, creating meaningful funding opportunities for organizations and initiatives that strengthen education, agriculture, the arts, and wellness throughout our communities. Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2026, through October 31, 2026. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for projects, initiatives, or scholarships that align with the PFCU Foundation’s miss

The Portland Cruisers recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Portland Community Fund. The money was raised at the recent Keusch Auto Car Show. The Portland Cruisers meets every Thursday from May to the end of August. The group was started in 2005 and is group of people that love cars and enjoy cruising. The group is completely nonprofit and we donate everything we make from out events and shows. In the last 13 years they have donated almost $50,000 to various famil