Michigan’s COVID-19 surge is trending in a “deeply concerning direction” ahead of the winter holidays and, unlike a year ago, is not subsiding following Thanksgiving, state health officials said Friday while urging vaccines and booster shots. Infection rates and hospitalizations are near or at all-time highs in the state 21 months into the pandemic. Vaccination rates lag the national average, especially among …

William Clarence Milliman, age 72, of Bronson, passed away early Sunday morning December 12, 2021 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born May 16, 1949 in Sturgis, son of the late L.B. and Gladys Milliman. Bill was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Bronson area and a graduate of Bronson High School with the class of 1967. He furthered his …

Betty Lou Kline, age 87, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, December 10, 2021 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born January 2, 1934 in Palestine, IL, the daughter of Victor and Barbara (Wilder) Correll. When she was 3, Betty and her mother moved to Lansing. As a young adult Betty moved to Kalamazoo. Betty worked as a …

Ruth Ida (Schwab) Walter, age 85, passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Ruth was born Oct. 7, 1936 in Kansas City, KS, the daughter of Ernest Schwab and Ruth Johnson. She grew up in Moorepark, raised by her grandparents, Willie and Ida Schoppe. She married William A. Walter on Mar. 14, 1954. She graduated from Three Rivers High School. …

Lloyd Harold Snyder, age 94, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Thurston Woods Village. He was born January 27, 1927 in Detroit, the son of the late Wayne and Edith (Bullock) Snyder. He graduated from Constantine High School with the Class of 1945. Lloyd worked for many years at American Electric Power, formerly Michigan Power, where he …

Matthew Aaron Krick, age 38, of Sturgis, passed away Friday afternoon, December 10, 2021 at his home. He was born March 3, 1983 in Sturgis, son of Richard and Laura (Kelly) Krick. Matt resided in Sturgis until age 10 when the family moved to Goodrich, Michigan returning to Sturgis in 2014. He had been employed by Village Guitar in Ortonville …

Lydia Mae Troyer, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away Friday afternoon, December 10, 2021 at Dear Country Adult Foster Care in Burr Oak. She was born March 23, 1935 in LaGrange, Indiana daughter of the late John and Fannie (Weaver) Mast. Lydia resided in Sturgis since 1960 coming from LaGrange. On July 30, 1960 she married Alvin Troyer in St. …

Jean Kenneth Baldwin, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, December 9, 2021 at his home. He was born June 7, 1935 in Sturgis, son of the late Charles and Fannie Irene (Hudson) Baldwin. Jean was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On June 29, 1958 he married Violet Nichols in Sturgis. Most of Jean’s working life was involved in factory …

Holly Lynn Havens, age 46, a woman of faith and courage, passed away Monday, December 6, 2021 at Three Rivers Health. She was born February 10, 1975 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Michael and Jackie (Oswalt) Havens. As a young girl, Holly loved riding horses, and competed on a national circuit where she won many awards. She attended White …

Michigan’s COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new high Wednesday, exceeding the previous record for the fifth straight time that the state has reported data. Nearly 4,700 patients were in the hospital statewide amid a fourth surge in infections. The roughly 4,400 hospitalized adults with confirmed cases was at the highest point in the 21-month coronavirus pandemic and 150 more than a …