Erika Michelle Clark, age 46, of Marcellus, passed away Friday, January 19, 2024 at the Cass County Medical Care Facility. She was born June 16, 1977 in Niles, the daughter of John G. and Valaria L. (Hartsell) VanTilburg, and graduated from Marcellus High School with the Class of 1995. Erika worked as a certified nursing assistant at the Cass County …

Fred E. Shank Jr., age 69, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at home following a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, children, and family. He was born to Fred E. and Marjorie R. (Luttrull) Shank on Sept. 14, 1954 in Muskegon. His family moved to Sturgis in 1965. Fred married Robyn S. …

Beverly J. Mount, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away on January 13, 2024 at Life Care Center of LaGrange. She was born November 16, 1939 in Indian Neck, Connecticut, the daughter of the late John Ivar and Olive Johnson. Beverly resided in Sturgis since 1971 coming from Columbus, Georgia. On August 17, 1968 she married Lamar Thomas Mount, Sr. in …

St. Joseph County officials last week approved a strategic plan for a high-profile department. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year plan. The matter was first addressed during the commission’s executive committee meeting Jan. 9. Parks and Recreation Department director Jaymes MacDonald said completing the process took most of 2023 and included a resident survey, …

The Constantine Department of Public Works has repaired a water-main break that occurred last week in its downtown district. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said crews were dispatched before dawn Friday. Water service was shut off for a period during the day Friday while the matter was addressed. Though service is now restored, Honeysett said residents north of Water Street are …

Two suspects – a 43-year-old man from Colon and a 44-year-old Mendon woman – face felony charges following their arrest last week. According to Michigan State Police troopers, during the course of an investigation related to a Branch County theft, a search warrant was secured for a residence in the 700 block of East State Street in Colon. The warrant …

St. Joseph County commissioners took care of a few small maters during their monthly meeting last week. First, its members re-appointed Robert Horton and Gerald Loudenslager to the county’s Board of Public Works. Meanwhile, Kathleen Carr was appointed to the county’s Building Authority Board. Also, undersheriff Jason Bingaman introduced himself as a candidate for sheriff and provided a lengthy background …

“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.” ~ Plato Soap has more uses than cleaning our bodies and removing bad words …

Rex Paul Thornburgh, age 72, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, January 19, 2023 at his home. He was born May 12, 1951 in Muncie, Indiana son of the late Lloyd and Katherine (Inman) Thornburgh. Rex resided in Sturgis for the past 52 years coming from Muncie. On January 2, 1972 he married Linda Schwartz in Centreville (Wasepi). Rex owned …

Martin James Troyer, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024 in LaGrange County due to injuries sustained in an automobile pedestrian accident on the Indiana Toll Road. At the time of the accident, Martin was assisting on a wrecker call. He was born March 29, 1960 in Elkhart, son of the late Paul James “Jim” and Nancy …