Sturgis and Three Rivers welcome first babies of 2016

St. Joseph County’s newest residents – the first born in 2016 at Three Rivers Health and at Sturgis Hospital – were born Jan. 2.
Damian Paul Bucher made his arrival at 5:33 a.m. Saturday. He weighed more than five pounds and was more than 18 inches long. Damian joins three sisters; his parents are Three Rivers residents Ryan Bucher and Erin Warner.
Meanwhile, Sturgis Hospital welcomed Lea Izabella Valdez at 2:18 a.m. Saturday.
The eight-pound, eight-ounce girl was 20 inches long and is the daughter of Leobardo Valdez and Maria Lizeth, both of Sturgis.
Lea joins a 9-year-old sister.
Both babies were born one to two weeks before their anticipated due dates.