Daniel Edmund Martin died on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic following surgery for a double lung transplant. He was born on April 5, 1949 in DeKalb, IL to the late Edmund and Millie Martin. On November 26, 1971 he married Deborah Heinemann, who survives. Also surviving are: daughter, Kirstin M.(Jordan) Pierson, daughter Meghan E.(Matthew) Deemer, beloved grandchildren …

Hope Pauline Keeslar, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, May 6, 2021 at her home. She was born Dec. 9, 1932 in Leavenworth, Kansas to Ray Champagne and Velda Swoveland. Hope was raised by her Aunt Pauline Penn and in 2002 when Aunt Pauline was 93 years old, she officially adopted Hope and it was a special day in …

Bruce Ryan Swinburne passed away peacefully on May 22, 2021. He was born at home in Delhi, Iowa, on Children’s Day, June 12, 1932 while his two older brothers sat on the porch steps waiting to go to Sunday School! He graduated from Delhi High School and Northern Iowa University, formerly Iowa State Teachers College. He attended Marine Corps Advanced …

Officials with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy are encouraging the public to participate in a challenge that they hope will put a dent in the reproduction of two invasive species. Garlic Mustard and Dame’s Rocket, both non-native species, are the target of the latest campaign. Anyone who fills three garbage bags with either of the weed will earn a complimentary, one-year …

The St. Joseph County United Way, in conjunction with the Sturgis Area Community Foundation and Three Rivers Area Community Foundation, is hosting a summer kick-off event next month. The gathering will help celebrate the work being done by non-profit organizations throughout St. Joseph County. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about current and upcoming resources available to their organization …

The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is reporting continued growth in passenger traffic for April 2021, which increased by more than 1,200 percent from what was reported in April 2020. The airport saw 12,370 total passengers in April 2021, up from 9,762 in March 2021 and up from April 2020’s 881passengers. For April 2021, AZO passenger checkpoint traffic is trailing the …

A newly formed organization is designed to support foster care in the county and surrounding area, according to its executive director, Jeff Jennings. The organization is called Support for Hope and was created by a team of individuals wishing to do more to help support and assist children and families. The focus is to act as a facilitator to connect …

Gary Junior Hobson, age 58, of Hephzibah, Georgia; formerly of Marcellus, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Augusta Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Gary was born in Portsmouth, Ohio on November 26, 1962 the son of Phillip Gary Hobson and Kathryn King. On August 17, 1986 in Vanceburg, Kentucky Gary married the love of his life Cathryn (Sights) Young, …

Philip James Stevens, age 48, of rural Vicksburg, died Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Kalamazoo on Aug. 12, 1972 the son of Ronald W. and Suzanne (Papierz) Stevens. He graduated from Comstock High School with the class of 1990, and later attended the Fire Academy. Philip was a firefighter, and first …

Court cases before St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton have returned to a livestream following a misunderstanding with state officials. The issue dates to March, when Middleton presided over a case that boosted his popularity on YouTube. The case involved a Sturgis defendant at the center of a domestic violence hearing. During the Zoom proceeding, attorney Deborah Davis …