Here’s the latest COVID-19 update from the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department. Agency officials said they are now administering Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson to all residents 18 years of age and older. Through last week, the department had administered in Cass County nearly 8,700 shots, which represents about one-fifth of the county’s population. Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Cass County …

“Happiness makes up in height, what it lacks in length.” ~ Robert Frost Welcome to April, 2021. Thanks to all you readers, I am now starting my sixteenth year writing this column. When I started the column, this newspaper was delivered to your home and was available at several newspaper stands six days a week. A lot has changed over …

Katie Ann Miller, age 89, of Centreville, passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at her home.  Katie was born in Nappanee, Indiana on June 1, 1931, a daughter of Jacob and Lizzie (Borkholder) Borkholder.  She attended school at Locke Center and Locke Schools in Indiana. Katie previously worked for Wise Lunch in Sturgis.  On June 9, 1956, she married …

William A. Beppler III, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born March 4, 1948 in Ann Arbor, a son to the late William A. and Eleanor (McDonald) Beppler Jr. William graduated from Constantine High School and also from Ferris State University with a degree …

Pfizer is expected to start building a new pharmaceutical production facility in Kalamazoo County. The drugmaker broke ground Wednesday on the multi-story, 420,000-square-foot building on Pfizer’s global manufacturing campus in Portage, MLive.com reported. It is expected to bring 450 new jobs to the area. The $465 million facility is expected to be in operation in 2025, according to Pfizer. The …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday doubled Michigan’s daily COVID-19 vaccination goal to 100,000 shots. She cited continuous week-over-week increases in vaccine allotments the state is receiving and an expanded number of providers who can administer doses. She called vaccinations safe, effective and essential to getting the country back to normal. “These new, higher vaccine targets are a testament to what …

Mary F. Chaffee, age 89, of Union, died Monday, March 29, 2021. She was married to Robert Chaffee, who preceded her in death. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2012, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Cremation will follow. Donations may be directed to the family.

Patricia Sziede, age 80, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family. Patricia was born in Kalamazoo on October 10, 1940, the daughter of Ralph Edward Rhodes and Iva Bertine McNutt. On March 27, 1981 in Paw Paw, Patricia married David Allan Sziede, who survives her in death. Patricia was a seamstress, working …

Marion L. “Bud” Leonard, age 77, of White Pigeon, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021, at his home. He was born March 4, 1944, in Kendallville, a son of the late Marion C. and Thelma (Balk) Leonard. On Oct. 3, 1969, he married Brenda Palmer in Centreville. Marion was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving two tours in Vietnam …

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Birch, age 75, of Leonidas, died Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 19, 1946 the daughter of the late Earl and Jean (Yearling) Avery and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1964. She …