Susan B. Coblentz, age 44, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at IU Health University Hospital in Indianapolis. Susan was born May 10, 1976, in Geneva, Ind., a daughter of the late Ben A. and Elizabeth (Graber) Coblentz. Susan is survived by her siblings, Leah (Paul) Shetler of Monroe, Ind., Albert (Sarah Irene) Coblentz of LaGrange, Verena …

Mary Lou Young, age 85, of LaGrange, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Miller’s Merry Manor in LaGrange.  Mary Lou was born in Three Rivers on March 24, 1935, a daughter of Audrey and Marguerite (Hoyt) Allen.  She attended Schoolcraft public schools. On October 1, 1954, she married Kermit Young; he preceded her in death in April of …

Dennis L. Bastian, age 80, of Mottville, passed away on Friday, January 29, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Dennis was born in Lawton on January 18, 1941.  He served in the US Army.  On December 14, 1963, he married Sharon Skinner in Lawton; she preceded him in death on June 13, 2016. Dennis was employed at Byer’s Barn …

Steven R. West, age 68, of Colon, passed away Friday, January 28, 2021 at Edgewood Health in Three Rivers. No services are planned. Arrangements by Schipper Funeral Home.

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Two days ago some restrictions were lifted concerning the Covid pandemic. This doesn’t mean we should all go out mask-free and hug everyone we meet. I will continue to wear a mask, wash my hands as often as a heart surgeon, maintain social distancing …

Larry E. “Gilly” Gillespie, age 72, of Howe, Indiana died at Parkview LaGrange Hospital on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Larry succumbed to acute leukemia after a courageous two-year battle with the disease. Born on May 23, 1948, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana to Elmo and Florence (Wheat) Gillespie, Larry lived his early childhood in Albany, Indiana, then LaGrange, …

The fight over whether to allow youth contact sports took center court Thursday in Lansing as Michigan lawmakers heard testimony from educators, parents and students wanting to get back to competition. Even though a ban on indoor dining ends Feb. 1, youth contact sports, including winter high school seasons in basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer, remain off-limits because of the …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she will not cede her authority to issue certain COVID-19 restrictions, calling Republicans’ attempt to hold back federal pandemic relief funding unless she changes course “cruel and reckless.” The Democratic governor urged GOP lawmakers to “shift their perspective to looking forward” and stop “digging in” on their continued opposition to state health department orders …

Police said they solved the murder of a Battle Creek woman more than 30 years later, after a newly discovered blood sample connected a man to the fatal stabbing. But no charges will be filed because Roger Plato was killed in 1988, three days before Gayle Barrus’ body was found by hunters in Calhoun County, prosecutor David Gilbert said. Nonetheless, …

Mona J. Tobias, age 94, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born June 18, 1926 in Sturgis, a daughter to the late William and Nettie (Kielkopf) Whitsel. Mona was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1944 and has been a Sturgis resident all of her life except for a …