An Edwardsburg man was injured in a one-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 7 p.m. Friday to Bald Hill Road near Tower Road. Ryan Ward, 26, told authorities he was driving westbound when he lost control of his vehicle and it went off the roadway. The vehicle then …

Michigan State Police graduated its 136th class last week. The group of more than 70 completed a 25-week training at the Lansing-based academy. The training involved firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity, decision, making, first aid, leadership, criminal law, crime-scene processing and precision driving. The recruits also participated in two community-outreach projects. Agency officials …

The Youth Advisory Council of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation is giving back this holiday season through its annual Christmas Service Project. The project benefits the Salvation Army, which provides Christmas gifts for local families in need. Group members recently gathered to shop for this year’s project, which focuses on providing gifts for area teens, considered an age group that …

It’s Christmas 2019. You still have time to get out and pick out those last minute Christmas gifts. Growing up, this is the time my family would gather around the Christmas tree and open our gifts. As a child, I received an allowance of thirty-five cents a week. To earn this, I was at my mother’s beckon call when it …

Wilfred “Willie” A. Miller, age 91, of Colon, passed away Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Birch Meadows AFC in Three Rivers. Willie was born in Bronson, Michigan on March 28, 1928, a son to the late Ray and Ruth (Annis) Miller. He grew up in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1946. Willie married Norma Jean …

Elizabeth Ann Dillon, age 60, of Reading, passed away from complications associated with ALS on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. She was born August 9, 1959 in Three Rivers, to Clinton and Dorothy (Fosdick) Shafer. On July 9, 1982 she married Patrick Dillon and he survives. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1977 …

Beverly G. Smelker, age 81 of Sturgis, died surrounded by family on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. She was born in Battle Creek on March 23, 1938 the daughter of Orville and Bernice (Sullivan) Jackson. Beverly graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the class of 1956. She was married to Bruce Smelker on Nov. 30, 1958 in Battle Creek. …

Don Ricky “Rick” Spoerner, age 55, of Mendon, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at his home. Rick was born in Indiana on March 16, 1964. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1982. He was currently working for KS Auto in Sturgis as an office manager for the past five years. Previously, he was a manager at …

Richard Eugene Strang, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 17, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born July 28, 1932 in Sturgis, son of the late John and Bertha (Ross) Strang. Dick was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1950. On October 7, 1950 he …

Todd James Smeltzer, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 15, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born April 29, 1965 in South Bend, son of Glennis L. and Beverly (Reiner) Smeltzer. Todd resided in Sturgis for the past nine years coming from Saline where he lived for three years. His early life was …