Both local high school football teams won over the weekend, extending their run in the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs. White Pigeon captured a Division 8 district crown Friday after defeating Saugatuck, 30-0. The Chiefs are now 11-0 and will play at Ottawa Lake Whiteford High School later in the week. Meanwhile, in Division 6 action Saturday, Constantine held …

Being retired usually means you don’t have any time to work, because you are too busy with other things. This reasoning fits me perfectly. I find myself too wrapped up in volunteering and find it difficult to even get out of town for a few days. I’ve been doing this column since 2006 and try to keep everyone informed on …

Harvey Max Whitcomb, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, November 4, 2023 at his home. He was born September 15, 1932 in Bethel Township, Branch County, Michigan son of the late Randall and Lucile (Hillyer) Whitcomb. Mr. Whitcomb resided in Sturgis since 1957 coming from Branch County, where he was a graduate of Bronson High School with the …

A western Michigan man was sentenced to decades in prison after pleading no contest in the 2021 slayings of his parents, whose bodies were found buried at a state game area. A Kalamazoo County judge on Wednesday sentenced Nicholas Johnson to spend between 29 and 69 years in prison. The Portage man must serve a minimum of 29 years before he’s eligible …

Stephen Virgil Slemp, age 73, of Colon, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023 after eight years with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Steve was born July 5, 1950 in Elizabethton, Tennessee, the oldest child of Jack Lafayette Slemp and Rosie Pauline “Sudie” (Hampton) Slemp. Steve graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1968, and then went on to Carson-Newman University for one …

David Frederick Recher, age 94, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Edgewood Health & Rehabilitation. He was born October 19, 1929, in Terre Haute, Indiana, the son of the Rev. John M. and Mildred (Summit) Recher Sr., and lived in Ohio and Massachusetts until the family moved to Michigan in 1946. He graduated from Three Rivers …

Doris A. Frohriep, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday morning, November 3, 2023 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born July 3, 1936 in Kalamazoo, daughter of the late Sanford E. and Anna (Robbins) Kessler. Mrs. Frohriep resided in Sturgis nearly her entire life and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Phyllis Marie Broker, age 71, of Colon, passed away at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital on the morning of Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Phyllis was born in Aurora, Illinois, on November 9, 1951, a daughter of the late Louis and Joyce (Emmel) Broker. Phyllis graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1970. She lived most all her adult life …

Jeffrey L. Bond, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away at his home on Fish Lake, Monday, October 30, 2023. Jeff was born on September 26, 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona, a son to the late Ted and Gwen (Willis) Bond. Jeff was a graduate of Mesa High School with the class of 1960. Jeff worked in Tempe, Arizona as a fire …

A White Pigeon man took top honors in both judging categories at Thursday’s “Chili Out at Your Library” event at White Pigeon Township Library. The inaugural event, a fundraiser to help the library raise funds for a bookmobile, drew 11 participants and more than 80 people sampling the offerings. Library director Perri Saunders said Charles Worley’s “Boilermaker Tailgate Chili” won …