Joan Doris Bell, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, Nov. 27, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born March 18, 1921, in Woodstock, Ill., a daughter of the late James and Ada (Carlson) Berkhout. Mrs. Bell resided in Sturgis since 1946, coming from Aurora, Ill. On June 9, 1945, she married Robert O. Bell in …

Lewis W. Brandt, 96, of Portage, and formerly of Colon, passed away Sunday morning, Nov. 18, 2012, at Tender Care Nursing Home in Portage. Lewis was born Jan. 15, 1916, in Colon, a son of Otto and Ruth (Darling) Brandt. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Colon, a World War II veteran and member of the …

Tim, Goodboy and Tiger Kitty are all still waiting for a good home! Hi all, my name is Baxter. I am a one year old male Beagle. I was found wandering around following my nose. I am very nice walking on a leash and I know to sit. I prefer to go potty outside so it is a little hard …

An incumbent on the Colon Community Schools Board of Education has sought a recount from the Nov. 6 election. Eric Wagner, who finished third in a race for two seats, requested the recount in light of his four-vote loss to second-place finisher Deb Bordner. Incumbent Eric Bower was the leading vote-getter by nearly 100 votes. St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie …

The Michigan House on Wednesday approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Matt Lori that allows the Michigan Department of Community Health to use email to notify Medicaid providers of changes in policy. The House bill allows the DCH to email changes to the Michigan Medicaid Provider Manual instead of using the U.S. Postal Service, as currently required. Lori said the …

Supporters and opponents of a proposed non-motorized trail way made their feelings clear about a 20-mile stretch of abandoned railway between Sturgis and well into Branch County. The former Indiana Northeastern Railroad Co. route is being sought as a route for bicyclists, joggers and walkers. Residents who live adjacent to the rail bed, however, have cited lack of privacy and …

Marjorie Ruth Hora, age 87, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully early Monday, November 26, 2012 at the Heartland Health Care Center. She was born on March 16, 1925 in Three Rivers, MI., the daughter of Ross and Wilma (Healy) Ream. Marjorie has been a life long resident of Three Rivers. She and her late husband Raymond, whom she married …

Dorothy Eleanor Lintemoot, age 94, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at Riverview Manor on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. She was born in Three Rivers, MI., on July 29, 1918 the daughter of the late Roscoe M. and Mamie L. (Boyer) Longenecker. Dorothy attended Three Rivers Schools and was united in marriage to Robert R. Lintemoot Sr., on Feb. 27, …

David Foster Hecht, Retired Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday Morning, Oct. 19, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. He was born Feb. 3, 1944, in Sturgis, a son of the late Max E. and Audrey E. (Reeg) Hecht. David was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

The Admiral gas station in Sturgis was robbed Tuesday morning by a man who used pepper spray to disorient the sales clerk. Sturgis police said a black man with cornrows in his hair entered the West Chicago Road station at 8:15 a.m. and discharged the spray on the clerk. The suspect then took a large sum of money from the …