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 …

Delbert B. McCallie, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 at Spectrum Gerber Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born on April 29, 1935 in Manilla, AR.; the son of the late William Lonzo and Hallie Mae (Gabbard) McCallie. Bill moved to the Three Rivers area in 1956 and lived there until 2017 …

Kristen K. (Hicks) Borst, age 49, of Three Rivers, went to be with the Lord Thursday, January 21, 2021 at home with her loving family by her side. She was born October 23, 1971 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Teddy and Sue Ellen (Jackson) Hicks. She attended Three Rivers Schools, graduating with highest honors in Class of 1989. During …

Our Dad. Our best friend, mentor, rock, guiding light, personal advisor, and above all else – our hero. “Never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself.” “Be careful not to pat yourself on the back too soon.” “Plan the work – Work the plan.” “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” The many codes he lived by. A …

David J. Smith, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, Jan. 26, 2021, at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. He was born Aug. 6, 1936, in Grand Rapids, a son of the late Clarence Justice and Beatrice Marie (Borrink) Smith. Dave resided in Sturgis since 1970, coming from Allegan, where he was a graduate of Allegan High School …

Patrick Long, age 71, of Ypsilanti, passed away Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville, Ind. He was born July 3, 1949, in Sturgis, to Clarence Long and Mary (Urbanc) Long. Patrick was a 1967 graduate of Sturgis High School. He went on to receive his Associate of Technology degree in 1970 from Glen Oaks Community College. …