Back-to-back storms that devastated portions of St. Joseph County was deemed the top local news story of 2021, according to the Sturgis Journal. Runner-up was a virtual court hearing that went viral. The case garnered national attention, as the defendant was found to be in the same residence of the suspect accusing him of physical abuse. Rounding out the top …

The village of Colon is expecting to see a number of infrastructure and ordinance improvements in the new year. Sharon Craun, village president, said one project includes the installation of two new lift stations, and upgrades to the municipality lagoons and inlet structures. She said the village was fortunate to have been chosen for the Michigan State University Sustainable Built …

Two options for design work at and around the forthcoming splash pad at Thurston Woods Park next year were recently presented to members of the Sturgis City Commission. Eventually, one of the options was selected with further examination set to take place in 2022. City staff has been working with Abonmarche Consultants Inc. on the site plan design for the …

Michigan on Wednesday recorded all-time high COVID-19 case counts, reporting nearly 13,000 a day — almost a third more than the peak set more than a year ago. The two-day average was 12,929, some 3,100 infections above the nearly 9,800 from a single day in November 2020. The explosive growth came as the state already grapples with a fourth, months-long …

Gerald Melville, age 98, of Marcellus, passed away peacefully at home with his family on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. He was born October 20, 1923, in South Bend to Edmund Marshall Melville and Mabel Johnson Melville. He graduated from Three Rivers High School and served in the US Army from 1943 to 1946 and is a WWII Veteran. His first …

Beverly Jean Sherburn, age 79, of Mendon, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital. Beverly was born January 16, 1942 in Marcellus to Raymond and Twilla (Oxley) Wright. She graduated from Marcellus High School in 1960. On September 17, 1960 she married Leland Glea Sherburn, Jr. in Roseland, IN. They had been married for 60 …

Jean A Wilson, age 80, of White Pigeon, died on Monday, December 27, 2021. Arrangements by Farrand Funeral Home.

Luella Blanche (Whitmill) Hein, age 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 24, 2021 at home. Lou, as she was affectionately called, was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Temperance, Michigan, to Blanche (Teall) and Orin M. Whitmill. After graduation in 1944, she met and married Herman H. Hein on July 14, 1945 in Washington, D.C. They …

Kevin Mark Gillette, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away on December 21, 2021 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital due to to complication of COVID-19. He was born January 14, 1958 in Bryan, Ohio son of Clyde and JoAnn (Collins) Gillette. Kevin was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class or 1976. In 1978 …

Sharon Ann Marks Marchand, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away on December 24, 2021 at her home. She was born April 15, 1966 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Jerry and Dianna Carol (Bauman) Marks. Sharon resided most of her life in Sturgis. On September 24, 2017 she married Scott Marchand in Sturgis. She had been employed by Thurston Woods …