Norman Hanshue, age 95, of Sturgis, was escorted to heaven by angels Monday afternoon, Jan. 9, 2012, at his home. He was born Sept. 2, 1916, in Pierson, a son of the late Raymond and Edith (Ward) Hanshue. Norm had resided in Sturgis since 1957, coming from Muskegon. On Aug. 29, 1939, he married Margie Baird in Grand Rapids. She …

St. Joseph County Grange Fair Board President Bill Younts said members of the entertainment committee are continuing their search for a headline act to perform at the Centreville-based fair in September. Younts acknowledged that entertainment is typically secured 10 months before the fair, but committee members have had to work around schedule conflicts and a few potential deals that never …

Barbara Anne Hills, age 59, of Springfield, Va., and a former Sturgis resident, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 8, 2012, at Hospice of Chesapeake in Linthicum, Md., following a yearlong battle with cancer. She was born Feb. 6, 1952, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Robert and Mary Charlotte (Oliphant) Hills. Barbara was a graduate of Holy Angels Catholic …

The Fabius-Park Fire Department recently received an insurance check for nearly $89,000 after much of its equipment was deemed a loss from a Nov. 3 fire in Park Township. A chemical release at a site where barrels of highly corrosive chemicals were being stored resulted in contamination and the subsequent loss of nine air packs, nine sets of turnout gear, …

Three Rivers-based Riverside Health Clinic has expanded its services to Sturgis. The clinic, which specializes in treating patients with insufficient insurance coverage, is operating a dispensary site from the Grobheiser Building on the Sturgis Hospital campus. The location is open 12 to 3 p.m. the first Thursday of the month and dispenses medication to patients already registered through its main …

KALAMAZOO, MI – A demoralizing loss. That is how Kalamazoo Wings forward Sam Ftorek summed up the K-Wings 2-1 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays on Wednesday night at Wings Stadium. “They (Stingrays) didn’t deviate from their system at all,” Ftorek said. “We didn’t really adjust the way we were supposed to; we were a step behind and for whatever …

Verna Marie Schimnoski, 99, of Three Rivers, died Jan. 1, 2012 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo surrounded by her family. She was born in Mountain Lake, Minn. on Nov. 22, 1912 the daughter of August and Mary (Beier) Schimnoski. She graduated from Jeffers High School, Mankato State College, and Calhoun Secretarial School in Minneapolis. Verna was a long-time employee …

Virginia Margaret “Ginger” Snyder, 62, of Kalamazoo, died Jan. 8, 2012, at Rose Arbor Hospice, succumbing to cancer after having risen above it for several years. The red-headed Ginger came into the world on Feb. 28, 1949 at the old Three Rivers Hospital overlooking Scidmore Park and joined her parents Jeanne (Fallon) and Harold Cordes and brother Rick, Chicago transplants, …

James Baker, director of the Three Rivers Clean Water Plant, said residents in the city’s Third District may experience strong, fowl odors emitting from the plant for the next two to seven days. Baker stated in a news release Tuesday that the start up of digesters at a reduced temperature will cause the spread of odors. The digesters have been …

A joint workshop staged Monday by board of education members from Mendon Community Schools and Centreville Public Schools was described by district officials as a meet-and-greet event. Rob Kuhlman, who serves as superintendent of both districts, said the Mendon board has two new members and Centreville three new members since he assumed the job prior to the start of the …