Lockport Township resident Rick Shaffer has announced his candidacy for Second District St. Joseph County Commissioner. Shaffer has served as a county commissioner on two previous occasions. On the ballot during the Aug. 4 primary election, the second district seat will represent Florence and Lockport townships, part of Fabius Township, and part of the city of Three Rivers. It is …

Choosing to err on the side of caution, organizers of the annual Mendon Dust-Off car show have announced the 2022 show is canceled. Heidi Alexander, president of the Classic and Antique Restorers Club, which sponsors the Dust-Off, said several considerations were taken under advisement. It was ultimately decided to hold off and instead commit to the 2023 Dust-Off. The May …

Angela Christine Frieben (Brockway) passed away at her home in Three Rivers on Monday, March 21, 2022 at the age of 47. Angela (Angie or “Gie” as she was known to her friends and family), loved nothing more than her family. She married her sweetheart, Kerry, soon after graduating high school and during their 29 years of marriage raised two …

Michigan insurers that require health providers to get pre-approval to cover treatment would have to promptly respond to doctors’ requests or those requests would be automatically granted under a bill headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her expected signature. The legislation received final, unanimous Senate approval on Thursday. Advocates said the measure would speed delays in care and provide more transparency around …

Gladys W. Heath, age 88, of Leonidas, died Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at her home. She was born in Kalamazoo on November 9, 1933 the daughter of the late Arthur and Mary (Milham) VanFulpen. After high school, Gladys sang in a dance band in Leonidas on Saturday nights. She was married to Durwood “Pork” Heath on March 5, 1966 in …

Richard Lowell Gardner, age 86, of Jones, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 in Three Rivers. He was born in Lawton on April 19, 1935 the son of Creston and Rose Marie (Warner) Gardner. On May 21, 1957, in Elkhart, he married Barbara Ann Daugherty who survives him in death. Richard volunteered for forty plus years on the fire …

William “Bill” Sanford Northrop, age 92, of Marcellus, passed away on March 9, 2022. Bill was born on March 26, 1929 to Howard and Doris Northrop in Lansing. After graduating from Eastern High School in 1947 he went on to work at Michigan Millers Insurance where he met his wife, Jean, going on to raise 6 children in Vicksburg. Bill …

The use of red-light cameras to issue traffic tickets would be banned in Michigan law under legislation that was approved Tuesday by the Senate and sent to the House for further consideration. Neither the state nor municipalities have the automated cameras that have been deployed elsewhere. In 2007, then-state Attorney General Mike Cox issued an opinion declaring them to be …

Jane I. Lewis, age 92, of LaGrange, died Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Life Care Center of LaGrange. Ms. Lewis was born on September 1, 1929, in LaGrange to Omer R. and M. Lucille (Tucker) Lewis; they preceded her in death. Ms. Lewis lived for many years in Mt. Clemens and Kalamazoo, and retired as a medical tech from Three …

Anna Irene Johansen, age 90, died on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at Upjohn Community Care Center in Kalamazoo. She was born November 9, 1931 in Constantine, a daughter of Harry and Freda (Thorne) Brown. Anna graduated from Constantine High School in 1949 where she was a trumpet player in the band as well Majorette. She later graduated from Western Michigan …