An 18-year-old Sturgis resident suffered minor injuries following a one-vehicle accident last week in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Brooke Fayette was driving west on Featherstone Road when she lost control of the vehicle on a slippery patch near Fair Road. Her vehicle left the roadway and drove down an embankment. The vehicle struck an embankment …

Sondra L. Richmond, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 28, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born May 23, 1944 in Fort Wayne, Ind., a daughter of Harold and Kathleen (Darby) Newman. Sondra resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1962. …

An eastern Indiana police officer and his wife who nursed an injured baby deer back to health are facing charges for rescuing the animal. Connersville police officer Jeff Counceller and his wife, Jennifer, were charged this month with illegal possession of a white-tailed deer, a misdemeanor that carries up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The couple …

Ruth Marie Matilda Stielau, age 85, of Centreville, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 2013, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Victoria Stielau in Sturgis. She was born Sept. 30, 1927, in Chicago, daughter of the late Ernst and Maria (Piepenburg) Engel. She attended schools in Chicago and graduated from Jones Commercial High School …

Barbara E. DeBack, age 94, of Colon, passed away, Jan. 27, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. Barbara was born, June 4, 1918, in Deerfield, Mich., a daughter to the late Arthur G. and Mae (Barnaby) Starks. Barbara grew up in Adrian, Mich., graduating from Adrian High School in 1936, moving to Colon after her marriage in 1945. Barbara Married John W. …

An automotive manufacturing plant in Mendon is planning a $5.1 million expansion, which is expected to create more than 90 new jobs over the next two years. Officials from Southfield-based International Automotive Components said a 30,000-square-foot addition to the west of the current plant will allow IAC to increase the volume of its production at the Mendon site. IAC spokesman …

A Holland man sustained serious injuries after his vehicle was broadsided by a semi tractor-trailer last week in Leonidas Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials said 53-year-old Ronald Genzink was driving south on Fulton Road when he attempted to cross M-60, but drove into the path of a southbound semi driven by a 55-year-old Granger, Ind., man. Genzink, who …

Three people at a Colon residence were arrested for drug-related charges last week. Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Friday morning at a house in the 300 block of St. Joseph Street. Once inside, police discovered a methamphetamine lab and other drug paraphernalia. A 30-year-old woman and two men, ages 43 and 24, …

Members of the Sturgis Neighborhood Program have presented to city officials bids for demolition of two properties. In September, the Sturgis City Commission toured five tax-foreclosed properties, which the city had purchased in August. Based on the tour, two homes were selected for demolition. The property at 206 Jacob St. has two structures and the property at 506 E. Hatch …

Lucille R. Griffith, age 90, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away late Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born May 24, 1922, in Rochester, New York, daughter of the late Archie and Alice (Tillman) Gibson. Lucy resided in Sturgis since 1931 coming from Rochester, New York. On June 18, 1943 she married Warren Griffith in Rochester, New …