Erin Goff, St. Joseph County’s emergency management services director, said the agency on Monday virtually activated its emergency operations center. Goff provided details to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, who staged their twice-a-month executive committee meeting Wednesday. It was conducted through Zoom teleconference. Goff said the activation stage means keeping an open line of communication between …

Shirley M. Andersen, age 92, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 9, 1927 in Chicago, the daughter of Frank and Florence (Krepel) Laser. On June 7, 1947 Shirley married the love of her life Arlo J. Andersen. Shirley wore many hats throughout her long lifetime including, but not limited …

Gerald E. Crotser, age 87, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at Grace Healthcare in Three Rivers. He was born near Colon on March 20, 1933 the son of Charles Aaron and Laura Anna (Yunker) Crotser. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1953 and then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. …

Two people were arrested following a home-invasion incident in Florence Township. State police troopers were called Monday afternoon to a residence on Lutz Road regarding a home invasion in progress. Authorities said the homeowners came home during the incident and one of the two suspects was in a car parked in the driveway. The person drove from the scene but …

Michigan is sending half of the 400 ventilators it received from the federal government to Detroit-area hospitals that are facing a surge of coronavirus patients. The state health department said the remaining 200 breathing machines will be set aside for seven regions that have fewer COVID-19 patients at this time. The number of COVID-19 cases reported statewide reached 9,334 Wednesday, …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency continues to provide updated information for COVID-19 cases in the tri-county area. Agency officials said Tuesday’s count includes the first identified cases in Branch County outside of Lakeland Correctional Facility. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the number of positive cases in the three-county jurisdiction includes four cases in St. Joseph County, 15 cases in …

Hundreds of new health care graduates from Michigan State University are available to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. State officials have made a desperate plea for health professionals to treat people as the number of virus cases rises each day. MSU says the state has created a temporary license for nurses who usually first take a national exam. Doctors from …

Craig James Balzer, age 56, of Brownsburg, Indiana and a former resident of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, March 30, 2020 at the I.U. Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Due to current condition with the Covid-19 pandemic and the limitations of gatherings, a celebration of life will be held at a later date to be announced. At that time …

Geraldine C. “Gerry” (Feulner) Shirley, age 97, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, March 27, 2020 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis following a short illness. She was born on March 18, 1923 in Chicago, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Schwartz) Feulner. On December 11, 1943 she married Eryl V. Shirley in Crown Pointe, IN. He preceded her in …

Be very careful Wednesday as you venture out and about. It is, after all, April Fools Day, so you’ll want to double check the salt and pepper shakers to make sure someone hasn’t loosened their caps. Also, you shouldn’t believe all you hear to be true. My suggestion is to stay clear of Facebook. The year 1952 was quite a …