Belleville-Area Independent

Belleville-Area Independent a It is managed by BANF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. Official Newspaper of Record for the City of Belleville & the Charter Township of Van Buren.

The Belleville-Area Independent is a free weekly newspaper published each Thursday in Belleville, Michigan, and has served the communities of Belleville, Sumpter, and Van Buren for over 30 years.

Orphan of the Week: Meet Bonnie! Just look at that sweet face! Bonnie is an adorable 8-month-old with a fun, spunky pers...
08/23/2026

Orphan of the Week: Meet Bonnie!

Just look at that sweet face! Bonnie is an adorable 8-month-old with a fun, spunky personality and lots of love to give.

She’s smart, playful, crate-trained, learning quickly, and ready for a family to call her own.

Could Bonnie be your girl?

The Belleville Area Independent is proud to support our local animal rescue and help these deserving animals find the loving homes they’re waiting for.

Visit Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue or call 734-461-9458 to learn more about Bonnie.

Please share and help us find this sweet girl her forever home.

Good morning, readers! This week’s edition of the Belleville Area Independent is available online and in print.School is...
08/20/2026

Good morning, readers! This week’s edition of the Belleville Area Independent is available online and in print.

School is right around the corner, and that means football season is back! The Belleville Tigers are getting ready for their Aug. 27 season opener at Grand Blanc.

And plenty is happening closer to home tonight in downtown Belleville. Enjoy the Taste of Belleville, cheer on your favorite duck in the Rubber Ducky Race at 6:30 p.m., and stick around for the final Music Lakeside concert of the summer, featuring D’Tour Band from 7–9 p.m.

Pick up your copy and catch up on what’s happening throughout Belleville, Van Buren and Sumpter.

Have an upcoming community event you’d like us to know about or highlight? Let us know in the comments.

Link to weekly paper: bit.ly/4zqyMaC

Thank you for your continued support.

Happy Monday, readers! Here are a few things happening in our community this week, plus one to add to next week’s calend...
08/17/2026

Happy Monday, readers! Here are a few things happening in our community this week, plus one to add to next week’s calendar.

Farmers Market: 4–7:30 p.m. | Main Street Auto Show: 5–8 p.m. in downtown Belleville.

Parks & Recreation Master Plan Public Input — Wednesday, Aug. 19 | 6 - 7 pm
Van Buren Township residents are invited to share their ideas for the Township’s updated Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

Taste of Belleville — Thursday, Aug. 20 | 6–8 p.m.
Horizon Park will host tastings from local food businesses, the Rubber Ducky Race at 6:30 p.m., and Lakeside music. The traditional bridge walk will not take place this year because of construction.

Looking Ahead — Sumpter Township
The next Sumpter Township Board of Trustees meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.

For more events, please pick up a print copy of this week’s edition or read onlinehttps://bellevilleareaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/8-13-26.pdf

Thank you for your continued support.

Follow the Belleville Area Independent for local news and community happenings throughout the week.

For more than a decade, the Independent has helped Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue introduce our community to its Or...
08/16/2026

For more than a decade, the Independent has helped Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue introduce our community to its Orphan of the Week.

This tradition began under longtime Independent editor Rosemary Otzman, and we are honored to continue it.

Did you meet Popcorn in this week's Independent?

This sweet little guy is affectionate, playful, and looking for his forever home.

If Popcorn has stolen your heart, you can learn more about him through Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue in Belleville.

And keep following the Independent each week as we continue sharing the local stories and traditions that make this community special.

Good morning, readers! This week’s edition of the Belleville Area Independent is now available in print and online.This ...
08/13/2026

Good morning, readers!

This week’s edition of the Belleville Area Independent is now available in print and online.

This week, read about the water and sewer rate increase approved by the Belleville City Council, including what residents can expect beginning this fall.

We’re also highlighting the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education meeting, where long-serving teachers were recognized for their years of dedication to students and our community.

Thank you for reading and supporting local journalism.

https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/8-13-26.pdf

Good morning, readers!This week's Belleville Area Independent is now available in print and online.One of this week's fe...
08/06/2026

Good morning, readers!

This week's Belleville Area Independent is now available in print and online.

One of this week's featured stories takes a closer look at the discussion over nepotism at the July 28 Sumpter Township Board of Trustees meeting, where the appointment of the supervisor's son as deputy supervisor sparked debate among trustees and residents.

Read the story here:
https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/nepotism-is-hot-topic-at-sumpter-township-trustees-meeting/

Be sure to pick up this week's print edition or visit our website for the latest local news, community updates, sports, and more.

Thank you for supporting local journalism!

Good morning, readers!This week’s edition is available in print and online. Featured in this issue:Public Hearing on Con...
07/30/2026

Good morning, readers!

This week’s edition is available in print and online. Featured in this issue:

Public Hearing on Controversial Waverly Development Delayed

by Sarah Rigg

July 29, 2026

Please follow and share:https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/

Good morning, readers,This week's edition is available in print and online: https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/wp-con...
07/23/2026

Good morning, readers,

This week's edition is available in print and online:https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/7-23-26.pdf

Please follow and share. Thank you!

Good morning, readers! In this week's edition of the Belleville Area Independent, you'll find local government updates a...
07/17/2026

Good morning, readers!

In this week's edition of the Belleville Area Independent, you'll find local government updates and stories from across Belleville, Van Buren Township, and Sumpter Township.

Inside this week's edition:

From the Editor: Belleville Area Struggles with Storm and Power Outages — by Sarah Rigg

VBT Reports Growing Fund Balance, Clean Audit — by Emily Flesch

Read this week's edition: https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/
or pick up a print copy.

The Independent is owned and operated by the Belleville Area Newspaper Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

This week's edition is available in print and online. Please follow and share. Link in the comments.
07/15/2026

This week's edition is available in print and online.

Please follow and share.

Link in the comments.

Address

152 Main Street Suite 9
Belleville, MI
48111

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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