KALAMAZOO — A sell-out crowd packed into Wings Stadium on Friday night for the Kalamazoo Wings’ home opener as well as to catch a glimpse at the $2 million renovations that were completed over the past few weeks. The K-Wings also raised their third consecutive North Division Championship banner before the game. Both on the ice and off, the K-Wings …

Brilliant. That is the only word I have to describe the feat that Andy Ashkar pulled off when he won $5 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket six years ago in Syracuse, N.Y. In 2006, Andy bought a “$500,000,000 Extravaganza” scratch-off ticket at his parents’ convenience store, the “Green Ale Market.” The ticket was sold to Andy by his father …

Michael Jay Harker, age 55, lifelong resident of Sturgis, passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 26, 2012, at his home. He was born June 27, 1957, in Sturgis, a son of Edwin and Wanda (Teall) Harker. He had been employed by Morgan Olson in Sturgis for 28 years. He had also worked at Harker Electric, Indiana Custom Truck, Continental Accessories …

Three Rivers 20,  Battle Creek Pennfield 14 Schoolcraft 41,  Niles Brandywine 8 Constantine 48,  Watervliet 33

Thomas James McNamara III Thomas James McNamara III, born August 16, 1939, Lansing, Michigan, died October 23, 2012 at home in Mason, MI. He is survived by his wife,Theresa, 3 children – Lori (Steve) Barczak, Thomas McNamara IV, and Matthew (Michelle) McNamara, 9 grandchildren, his mother, Marion, siblings Jack (Colleen), Dan (Gail), Tim and Kelly, 14 loving nieces and nephews …

Maurine E. Baker, age 94, of Kalamazoo, and a longtime former resident of Sturgis, passed away Thursday morning, October 25, 2012 at Fountain View Assisted Living of Portage in Portage, Michigan She was born October 7, 1918 in Sturgis, Michigan a daughter of the late Ralph and Leona (Cahrier) Barnell in 1926 when she was eight, her folks bought the …

Florence M. Pfenning, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Oct. 23, 2012, at Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers. She was born Jan. 13, 1927, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Arthur G. and Blanche (Pridgeon) Ledyard. Mrs. Pfenning resided in Sturgis her entire life. On April 1, 1945, she married Richard C. “Dick” Pfenning in …

Grace Irene Tyler, age 60, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born April 25, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan a daughter of the late Walter and Irene (Chaney) Salton Sr. Grace resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area since 1987. On Dec. 27, 1987, she married George Tyler …

Eugene I. Barnes, 85, of Wolcottville, Ind., died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at 12:50 p.m. in his residence. He moved to this area over 20 years ago from Sturgis. Mr. Barnes was a self-employed brick mason. He retired after 25 years with Inland Steel in East Chicago, Ind. He was a missionary through the Wesleyan Church in Sturgis, serving in …

White Pigeon Community Schools had four of its 14 buses red-tagged during annual inspections earlier this week. Superintendent Ron Drzewicki (joo-VICK-ee) told board of education members Wednesday the violations were on three of the district’s four oldest buses, which are 14, 15 and 17 years old. Drzewicki said Michigan State Police inspectors indicated the violations were minor and would not …