Last weekend’s Art on the Green at Island Hills Golf Club was postponed due to inclement weather Saturday. Event organizer Shireen Cline said a forecast calling for strong storms warranted the delay. Cline said she had more than a dozen vendors lined up for what would have been the 9th Art on the Green and hopes all will return. A …

May’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one percent from April. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in April to 5.6 percent in May. The rate was 18.8 percent a year earlier, as May 2020 marked …

The Sturgis fireworks presentation originally scheduled to take place over the weekend has been moved to August. Sturgis City Commission members made the decision a few days before what would have been the city’s fireworks display Saturday. What proved to be a correct prediction of extreme weather Saturday prompted municipal officials to postpone the presentation. The fireworks display will now …

Eight cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant, four in Branch County and four in St. Joseph County, have been confirmed to the community health agency. Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, told the board last week there is some tie-in. The four cases in St. Joseph County live in the same household, Burns said, explaining the original …

Just about every one has a cell-phone these days. I carry mine in a pouch on my belt. It’s pretty handy, except when I wear my shirt outside my pants. I miss quite a few calls, because it takes me a few seconds to lift my shirt, undo the Velcro and get the phone out. Many people, mostly young girls, …

Lester Dale Noel, age 81, of Mendon, died Friday, May 6, 2021 at his home. He was born in Vicksburg on January 31, 1940 the son of Virgil and Dorothy Noel. Lester graduated from Vicksburg High School. After high school, he worked for 39 years as a Mold Setter at the Haas Corporation later known as the Lear Corporation. On …

George Elwin “Georgie” Rupert, age 85, of Three Rivers, died Friday, June 25, 2021 at his home. He was born in Schoolcraft on Sept. 9, 1936 the son of Elwin and Charlotte (Hunnel) Rupert and was a lifetime resident of the area. For the past 36 years he was cared for by his nephew Paul Romig and his wife, Barbara. …

Cathy Sue Miller, age 67, of Sturgis, went to be with the Lord on Friday, June 25, 2021 at her home.  Cathy was born in Sturgis on May 13, 1954, a daughter of F. Keith and Doris (Knauss) Borgert.  She attended Nottawa and Centreville Public Schools, graduating in 1972.  After high school, Cathy received her Associate’s Degree from Glen Oaks …

Mary Ruth Bronstetter, age 95, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021 at her daughter’s home.   Mary was born in Florence Township on January 16, 1926, a daughter of Leslie and Edna (Wright) Featherstone. Mary attended the Masterman’s school house on the corner of Featherstone and Lutz Roads. On August 15, 1943, she married Alfred Bronstetter in …

Madeleine Jean Patricia (Murphy) Parker, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday afternoon, June 2, 2021 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born November 22, 1935 in Sturgis, daughter of the late The Rev. Robert J. and Marion (Cannon) Murphy. Madeleine’s father was the Chaplin at Howe Military School for many years. She was a lifelong resident of …