James “Jim” Ortmann, age 57, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, December 1, 2021 at Fairview Nursing and Rehab Community in Centreville after a sudden illness. Jim was born November 23, 1964 in Sturgis. He is the son of Norby and Rita (Strzalkowski) Ortmann. Jim loved working with the public and served in various positions at Meijer, Coldwater NCG Cinema, …

Democrats vowed Wednesday to push new gun-control legislation and to try to revive stalled bills in Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature following a mass shooting that left four high school students dead and others with serious injuries. But GOP leaders, who have long opposed such measures and have favored looser restrictions, did not immediately commit to policy changes. “We can’t do nothing,” Sen. Rosemary …

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at a Michigan high school. Authorities on Wednesday revealed that his parents were summoned just a few hours before the bloodshed. No motive was offered by Oakland County authorities, a day after violence at Oxford High School. But sheriff’s …

James Ortman, age 57, of Sturgis, died on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Arrangements by Hackman Family Funeral Homes.

Verna Schlabach, age 71, of Centreville, died on Monday, November 29, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. She was born December 23, 1949 in Sturgis, a daughter of Henry and Emma (Borkholder) Borkholder. Verna graduated from Sturgis High School in 1968. On December 24, 1971 she married Raymond D Schlabach at Locust Grove Mennonite Church. Verna was a lifelong …

Parveena Gayen, age 70, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 from injuries in an auto accident on November 23rd in St. Joseph County. She was born in Delhi, India on Dec. 16, 1950 the daughter of Hidayat and Sosan (Mall) Masih. She was married to Manoj Gayen on Oct. 21, 1975 in Hapur, India. They came to the …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration said Tuesday it wants lawmakers to quickly allocate $300 million in federal pandemic rescue funding to support COVID-19 testing at schools amid a fourth surge of infections in Michigan. The money was included in the relief law approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in March. It is set to expire next summer and is part …

Rodney James Easterday, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, November 29, 2021 following a lengthy illness. He was born on June 12, 1948 in Fawn River Township, the son of the late James Easterday and Gertrude Verglea (Hamm) Gotfryd. Rodney has been a longtime resident of Three Rivers working as a truck driver …

Kathlyn “Kay” Marie Price, age 73, died on Sunday, November 28, 2021 in Three Rivers. In accordance with family wishes, cremation will be conducted and no services will be held. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Georgene Louise Homer, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at Bowman Place Assisted Living Community where she resided for the past two years. She was born in Chicago on October 9, 1932, daughter of George and Louise (Cihlar) Bullock. Georgene graduated from high school in Chicago in 1950 and began working for People’s Gas …