President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan amid the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration provides additional money to address the outbreak as a top health official warned that the situation in Detroit will worsen. Michigan officials also reported Saturday 19 additional virus-related deaths nearly 1,000 new confirmed cases. Michigan now has 4,650 cases and at least 111 …

President Donald Trump is willing to help governors in their struggle with a virus outbreak, if they ask nice. He has taken a round of steps to expand the federal government’s role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic after desperate pleas from the nation’s governors. Yet he also rejected any criticism for the federal government’s …

The U.S. surgeon general says the situation in Detroit, a national “hot spot” for cases of the new coronavirus, will worsen next week. Three Detroit-area counties account for 83% of the more than 3,600 people in Michigan confirmed to have COVID-19. At least 92 have died. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says it’s “very unlikely” students will return to school, but she …

Dale Harvey Lockwood Sr., age 91, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 26th, 2020 at the Birch Meadows Assisted Living Facility.  Dale was born on September 2, 1928 in Three Rivers, the son of the late Fred and Myrtle (Parker) Lockwood. Dale has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers.  He served his country honorably in the …

Margene Lucille Wordelman, age 91, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at the home of her loving daughter, Karen.  She was born in Hamill, South Dakota on July 22, 1928 to Raymond and Jane (Imboden) Savage. She was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and loved taking part in the preaching with her friends in Florida as well …

A new regulation prohibits Michigan’s largest livestock operations from spreading manure on croplands during the first three months of the year. The ban on waste application during January, February and March was included in an update of a state permit for farms that house large numbers of animals in sprawling barns. It applies to about 260 Michigan farms. The Department …

Daisy Marie (DuVall) Allabach, age 87, of Sturgis, died Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Thurston Woods Villa in Sturgis, following a long, hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born Aug. 24, 1932, in Monroe, a daughter of the late Marcellus F. and Grace Daisy (McCrow) DuVall. From Monroe, where she spent her early years, she moved to Sturgis with her …

Krista Goebel, age 41, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Kalamazoo. She was born July 14, 1978, in Alma, to John and the late Teresa (Carmichael) Goebel. She and her family spent her formative years in her hometown of Gaylord, where she graduated from Gaylord High School in 1996 and went on to earn a …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says golf courses should abide by her stay-at-home order and close down. The guidance issued Thursday is the latest to businesses and operations looking for clarity related to the temporary measure that took effect earlier this week. Whitmer’s office also says 10-cent bottle returns are off-limits and that tobacco shops, cigar bars, vape shops and hookah …

Gerald Steven “Jerry” Waters, age 62, of Colon, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at home, unexpectedly, but after a long illness. He was born Oct. 15, 1957, in Richmond, Ind., a son of Roger Waters and Jacqueline (Ayers) Waters. Jerry grew up in Winchester, Ind., and when he was 18 moved to Michigan, where he completed his General …