Fire crews from White Pigeon and Constantine responded Friday afternoon to Mottville Township, where an abandoned house was on fire. The residence, on Riverside Drive, was already partially collapsed. A cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but fire officials said embers from a nearby burning leaf pile could have triggered the blaze. The structure was completely destroyed.

Carolyn J. (Walker) Howk, age 79, formerly of Butler Pa., Port Charlotte Fla., and Burr Oak Mich., passed away March 16, 2012. She was born in Nashville Tenn., on March 19, 1932, the daughter of the late Robah and Myrtle MaryBelle (Jenkins) Walker. She is also preceded in death by siblings, Pauline Blankenship, Ruth Stevens, Burgess Walker and Carroll “Joe” …

Registering a season-high nine-goal effort, the Kalamazoo Wings dismantled the Toledo Walleye 9-1 Sunday afternoon at the Huntington Center. Despite dominating the opening period of play by outshooting the Walleye 18-5 and winning 10 of the 13 face-offs, the K-Wings weren’t able to score in the first period. Most of the K-Wings scoring chances in the first period came off …

Judith Ann Cross, age 56, of Deltona, Florida, died Friday March 16, 2012 at Halifax Health of Volusia/Flagler Care Center. She was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 29, 1956 and was 1 of only 3 babies born there on leap year in 1956. Judith moved to Florida in 1992 from Mendon and was a payroll clerk for the Volusia …

Opal Mae Hambright, age 82, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Saturday morning March 17, 2012 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born October 1, 1929 in Campton, Kentucky a daughter of Ed and Dovie (Prophit) Carroll. Mrs. Hambright resided in the Sturgis area since 1953.  On July 12, 1956 she married Leo Joseph Hambright in Sturgis. From 1953–1964 …

The Kalamazoo Wings scored two goals in the final five minutes to cap a three-goal rally, but were unable to score in the shootout and fell to the Toledo Walleye 4-3 during the 31st Annual “World Famous” St. Patrick’s Day Green Ice Game, presented by Fifth-Third Bank, WWMT and WRKR. Kalamazoo came out of the gates firing on all cylinders; …

James C. Hesher, 77, of Constantine, died Thursday, March 15, 2012, at his home following an extended illness. He was born May 23, 1934, in Sturgis, Mich., a son to Glen A. and Bernice M. (Brockway) Hesher. On June 28, 1958, he married Margaret L. Fuller in Constantine. He had been a Constantine resident since 1958, coming from Scott, Ind. He …

Rosemarie S. (Rose) Marble, age 67, of Colon, passed away, Thursday, March 15, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Rose was born July 11, 1944, in Detroit, a daughter to the late Arthur F. and Alice (Oakes) Comport. On April 6, 1990, she married Richard L. Marble in Coldwater. He preceded her in death on Jan. 24, 2004. Rose …

Riley Gill made 26 saves and the Kalamazoo Wings scored all their goals in the first period en route to a 2-0 victory over the Trenton Titans on Noodles & Company Night. Leading the league with 74 first period goals entering Friday’s contest, the K-Wings added to their total striking twice in the first 20 minutes. Ripping a slap shot …

The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the ECHL, two-time defending North Division Champions, reigning Eastern Conference Champions and National Hockey League affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils and American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, announce the four winners of the team’s season ticket holder contest. For the past four seasons, the K-Wings have selected members of their season …