Faced with the country’s highest rate of new coronavirus infections, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday urged a two-week suspension of in-person high school classes, all youth sports and indoor restaurant dining. She stopped short of ordering restrictions, instead asking for voluntary compliance to slow the spread of COVID-19. High schools should shift to virtual learning, both school and non-school …

Washington will rush federal resources to support vaccinations, testing and therapeutics, but not vaccines, to Michigan in an effort to control the state’s worst-in-the-nation COVID-19 transmission rate, the White House said Friday. The announcement came as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer strongly recommended, but did not order, a two-week pause on face-to-face high school instruction, indoor restaurant dining and youth sports. She cited …

Bruce C. Campbell of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Bronson Medical Center after a brief battle with cancer. A life long resident of Three Rivers, Bruce was born on October 21, 1944, to the late Alvin Eugene and Jama Geneva (Kennedy) Campbell. He spent most of his adult life working as a master electrician and …

James (Jim) W. Best, age 74, of Three Rivers, lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease surrounded by the love of his family on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents Eleanor A. (Richardson) Best and Grey J. Best; his sister Barbara Best; father-in-law Robert E. Dodge, mother-in-law Wathena (DeWitt) Dodge; and his brother-in-law Leon Bagwell. …

Richard Buys, age 54, of Three Rivers passed away at home on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. He was born in Sturgis on December 3, 1966, the son of the late Albert and Stella (Kanouse) Buys. He remained a life long resident of Michigan living in different parts throughout his life. He had a wonderful smile and great sense of humor. …

Mary Ann Gratkowski (Piekarczyk), age 103, of Marcellus, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. She was born in East Chicago, Indiana on January 21, 1918, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Koscielniak) Piekarczyk. She is the last living sibling out of 10. On October 11, 1941 in East Chicago, Indiana she married Frank J. …

Marie A. St. Louis, age 82, of Sturgis, went home to be with our Lord and Savior late Wednesday evening, April 7, 2021, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born April 20, 1938, in Cheboygan, a daughter of the late Steven and Elizabeth (Warner) Grawey. Mrs. St. Louis resided in Sturgis since 1959, coming from Detroit. On Dec. …

Personal-finance company MoneyGeek has released statistics related to the most dangerous roads in Michigan, as well as identifying the most-dangerous roads in every county in the state. The data was based on analysis of 2,751 fatal crashes over a three-year period beginning in 2017. Nearly one-third of the fatalities were related to drunken driving. Seven of the 10 roads identified …

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a request from county clerk Lindsay Oswald for an exemption to the county’s hiring freeze. During Tuesday’s board meeting, commissioners gave Oswald the green light to hire a deputy clerk. Commissioners acknowledged Oswald has been short-staffed for a year and that funding to accommodate the request was included in the county’s 2021 fiscal-year budget. …

Officials from the St. Joseph County Conservation District said the period to make an order through its annual spring seedling tree sale ends next week. Agency director Carolyn Grace said orders will be taken through April 15. Pick-up date for fruit trees is April 23; all others will be available in May. Grace said there will be a drive-thru pick-up …