James Edward Thayer, age 67, of Cassopolis, died Sunday, November 12, 2023. His life began January 14, 1956, in Plainwell, born to Edward and Lena Thayer.  He married the love of his life, Melva Louise DeVries August 9, 1980 in Allegan. Jim loved to laugh.  He and his brother, Mike, were two peas in a pod.  They laughed more than …

Linda Lou Tone, age 74, of Cassopolis, died Sunday, November 12, 2023, in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began September 14, 1949, in Niles, the fifth of seven children born to Jim and Ruby Green.  She attended White Temple Schoolhouse and graduated from Cassopolis High School in 1967. She married Jonathan W. Tone on December 14, 1968 …

Thomas A. Long, age 74, of Jones, died Sunday, November 12, 2023. Arrangements are pending at Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis.

Lillian (DeMott) Larson, age 87, of Three Rivers, died suddenly Saturday morning, November 11, 2023. Lillian was born March 4, 1936 in Battle Creek. She attended Immaculate Conception Church. She was a founding member of the Portage Eagles. Lillian loved sewing making quilts for family and friends. She was an accomplished cake decorator owning her own cake shop out of …

Arlene Joyce Collins, age 92, of Leonidas, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, November 13, 2023. She was born in Leonidas on December 19, 1930 the daughter of Loyd and Elda (Krumm-Hagelgans) Outman. She was a graduate from Colon High School in 1949 and continued her studies at Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music. On August …

Longtime Three Rivers resident, Martha Lynn O’Dell, died Halloween morning on Oct.31, 2023 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. She was 73. Born July 30, 1950 and raised in Three Rivers, Martha was most recently a resident of Crestwood Manor, a Brookside Care home, in Kalamazoo. One of four children, Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Charles …

Michigan’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase on Jan. 1, 2024. The state’s minimum wage will increase from $10.10 to $10.33 per hour, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. In addition, starting Jan. 1, the 85% of the minimum hourly wage rate for minors ages 16 and 17 will increase to $8.78 per hour. The tipped …

The first television I remember having, was a seventeen inch, black and white table model that my parents bought at the Firestone store here in Three Rivers. We got it back in the fifties. Back then, we could get channel three in Kalamazoo and channel eight in Grand Rapids. Cable wasn’t around yet, but we did have a roof-mounted antenna …

George Shockey Meek, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, November 10, 2023 at Skaggs Assisted Living in Burr Oak. He was born February 28, 1934 in Battle Creek, son of the late Jack W. and Alma LaMoyne (Piatt) Meek. George resided most of his life in the Sturgis area with the exception of the 19 years he lived …

Homer W. Pelfrey, age 49, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Friday, November 10, 2023 at his home. He was born October 17, 1974 in Sturgis, son of Homer and Sandy (Hammond) Pelfrey. Homer was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1993. Homer was a jack of all trades; he enjoyed working on …