The St. Joseph County Road Commission wishes to remind residents that state law prohibits plowing or shoveling of snow into the roadway. Agency officials said the reminder is relevant after last weekend’s snow event, the first of the season in St. Joseph County. It is recommended that snow from end-of-driveway shoveling be tossed three to five feet away from the …

Welcome to 2021. It won’t take much to be a better year than 2020. Working together, we can make it the best year we’ve seen in a long time. I’m going to try something new this year. Most of you can remember when the highways were decorated with Burma Shave signs. They were all quite clever and made a lot …

Jerry Earl Bingaman, age 67, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, January 2, 2020 at his home. He was born January 25, 1953 in Sturgis, son of the late Alden and Beulah (Gay) Bingaman. Jerry resided his whole life in St. Joseph County. On April 2, 2009 he married Phyllis Minnick in Sturgis. Most of Jerry’s working life was as …

Kenneth “Kenny” Chamberlain, age 65, of Marcellus, passed away Thursday December 31, 2020, at home. Kenny was born in Marshall, Michigan on August 8, 1955; the son of Kenneth L. and Beverly Jean (Warsup) Chamberlain, and was raised by his Uncle George Chamberlain and Aunt Doris Chamberlain, after the death of his father. Kenny was a farmer, working for many …

Carolyn M. Wickey, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday morning December 31, 2020 at home with her family by her side. She was born on October 14, 1949 in Winter Haven, FL a daughter to Stuart and Louise (May) Stowell. On October 1, 1967 at Locust Grove Mennonite church she married John W. Wickey. Carolyn was a graduate of …

Mark “Little Mark” Arthur Roberts, age 60, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born on December 6, 1960, in Sturgis, the son of Arthur George “Sam” Roberts Jr. and Catherine Louise “Kay” (Stump) Roberts. Mark worked in the construction industry and was a very talented woodworker. He enjoyed being …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has received an initial allotment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations began for individuals in Phase 1A priority groups last week, as hospitals in the Branch-Hillsdale-St Joseph counties also received shipments to vaccinate their front-line workers. Communications are taking place directly with these entities, and clinics are not open to the general public at this …

The Verizon store in Sturgis was robbed Tuesday. Investigators said the incident occurred at 1:38 p.m. at 1382 S. Centerville Road and involved four black men. They were unarmed. Police said the suspects left the scene in a gray Toyota Corolla later located in the 1300 block of Cato Lane. It had been reported stolen from Grand Rapids earlier in …

Sheriff’s officials are investigating several break-ins recently in the Tamarac subdivision in Lockport Township. Deputies were dispatched to Eagle Drive for a breaking and entering to an outbuilding and also to Falcon Court for a report of larceny from a vehicle. Investigators said they believe the incidents are related and occurred the night of Dec. 26.