About 200 people have been laid off at Pfizer’s facility in Portage, the company confirmed. The laid-off employees were notified last week, according to MLive. A lower demand than what the company expected for its COVID-19 products was stated as the culprit. The product Comirnaty is Pfizer’s vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in people 12 years and older. Paxlovid, meanwhile, is …

Loren M. Keely, age 61, of Colon, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023, at Ascension PIPP Hospital in Plainwell. Loren was born on October 29, 1961, in Goshen, a son to the late Martin and Mary (Borntrager) Keely. Loren attended Centreville High School and graduated with the class of 1981. Loren worked on the line at Secure Domes and …

Patricia Jane Strang, age 92, of Sturgis, was surrounded by her family when she passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon, November 5, 2023 at her home. She was born March 19, 1931 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Glenn and Mildred (Zabel) Blossom. Mrs. Strang was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1949. …

Michael T. Thrams, age 76, of Sherwood, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, November 3, 2023, at The Oaks at NorthPointe Woods in their Legacy Care unit. Michael was born on December 21, 1946, in Sturgis, a son to the late Earl and Elizabeth (Waterhouse) Thrams. Michael made his home in Sherwood, and spent his entire life living and farming on …

John Robert Hoffman, age 72, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2023. John was born in Three Rivers on March 23, 1951 the son of Robert Bruce and Margaret Phyllis (Welty) Hoffman. John has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. John was a graduate from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1969. He attended Glen …

Lon E. Johansen, age 71, of Constantine, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Kairos Dwelling Home in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on September 5, 1952, a son of Arthur and Alice (Stahly) Johansen. Lon graduated from Constantine High School in 1970 and later obtained an Associates Degree in Business from Ferris State University. Lon began …

Huberta Jean Nisonger, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Angela Hospice in Livonia. She was born June 23, 1934 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Hubert and Pauline (Wetherbee) Spade, and graduated from Schoolcraft High School with the Class of 1952. Huberta worked for her entire adult life in banking, sales, and accounting. She …

Sturgis municipal officials have completed the sale of Sturgis Hospital. Completion of the transaction allowed Sturgis Hospital Inc. to finalize terms of its acquisition by Asker Corp., including a management agreement and financial support of the hospital. That agreement will be in place until the acquisition is approved by the Michigan Attorney General’s office. The agreement included a $3 million …

A 79-year-old Union man died in a single-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Ontwa Township. Douglas Westrick, chief of the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department, said first-responders were called shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday to an area on Redfield Street, west of Adamsville Road. Witnesses told authorities a vehicle driven by Robert Lockmondy was eastbound on Redfield Street, crossed …

Two cars ended up in the mill race following an incident last week in downtown Colon. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Capt. T.J. Baker said the county’s dive/rescue team was summoned after local authorities responded to the incident, which occurred around 1:15 p.m. Thursday. According to authorities, the driver of a car was pulling out of an on-street parking space and …