Richardo C. “Richard” Rodriguez, age 73, of Bronson, Michigan passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. He was born November 17, 1948 in LaSalle County, Texas son of the late Refugio and Maria (Charo) Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez resided in Bronson for the past 40 years coming from Richton, Illinois. In 1966 he married Patricia …

Patricia R. Rodriguez, age 81, of Bronson, Michigan passed away on November 30, 2021 at the Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. She was born February 20, 1940 in Chicago Heights, Illinois daughter of the late Anthony and Celia (Pamo) Caruso. Mrs. Rodriguez resided in Bronson of the past 40 years coming from Richton Park, Illinois. In 1966 she married …

Richard D. Rodriguez, age 52, of Bronson, Michigan passed away on November 29, 2021 at the Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. He was born August 15, 1969 in Chicago Heights, Illinois son of Richard and Patricia (Caruso) Rodriguez. Richard resided in Bronson for the past 40 years coming from Richton Park, Illinois. He was a member of St. Mary’s …

Christmas 2021 is now in the history books. The Christmas season is probably the nicest of all the seasons. It seems that everyone is nicer to be around, unless you happen to be in one of the department stores, where everyone has their eyes on that one special gift and everybody wants it. Kudos to those sales clerks and cashiers. …

Michael L. Borkholder, age 58, of Centreville, passed away Saturday evening, December 25, 2021 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. He was born August 20, 1963 in South Bend, son of Levi and Esther (Troyer) Borkholder. Mike’s returned to Sturgis in 2001. His early life was lived in Sturgis where he was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that she still supports President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, clarifying comments she made earlier this month in which she expressed concerns about it. After a federal appeals court overruled a decision last week that paused a nationwide vaccine mandate for employers of 100 workers or more, 27 Republican-led state governments have come forward with their intent …

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring announced Tuesday tentative contract agreements have been reached with the county’s 10 different labor unions. Doehring said with two exceptions, annual raises of 2 percent will be given in each of the next three years. Meanwhile, corrections officers will receive 3 percent raises annually over the next 36 months while the command group for …

During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said the five-county Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium has been dissolved. He said St. Joseph County, however, will continue to keep its own Solid Waste Committee. On an unrelated note, Hoffmaster said the St. Joseph County Transportation Board is in need of members. The board meets the third Tuesday of the month. …

Sturgis commissioners are reviewing a plan calling for development of a trail on leased Michigan Southern Railway right-of-way. The proposed route would extend from west of Big Hill Road west to North Jefferson Street, then south to Chicago Road. Initially, the scope of work consists of preliminary design layout, final design, preparation of contractor requests for bids, evaluation of bids, …

The St. Joseph County United Way has stepped in to assist the family of a Centreville man and his young son who both died in a car crash last weekend. Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency has established a fund to aid the family of Phillip Parker with funeral expenses and other financial demands. Parker, age 30, and his 5-year-old …