Joy Anne Prey of Plymouth, Michigan passed away on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 from complications with dementia. She, along with her twin sister Janice were born on Oct. 5, 1945 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Ernest and Anne (Schmitt) Baker. Joy was a 1964 graduate of Mendon High School. She then attended and graduated from Wright Beauty Academy in …

Michigan has banned the open carry of guns in the state Capitol a week after an armed mob rioted in the U.S. Capitol and following a protest in the statehouse last year. Moves to ban weapons at the statehouse have been pushed since April, when protesters opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions, some armed with long rifles and other …

Dr. Charles R. (Chuck, Doc, Ziggy) Zimont passed peacefully on to glory, pre-dawn on Monday, January 11, 2021, at home with his loving wife of 66 years, Joey, by his side. Born December 22, 1932, in Berwyn Illinois, to Raymond D. and Mary (Soper) Zimont, he dedicated his entire life to learning and taking care of people in his hometown …

Larry F. Shingledecker, Sr., age 67, of Centreville, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Bayfront Health Hospital in Brooksville, FL. Larry was born in Three Rivers on May 18, 1953, a son of Forrest “Bud” and Eleanor (Waltz) Shingledecker, Jr.  He graduated from Sturgis Schools.  On July 7, 1973, he married Teresa Juday. Larry worked for the St. …

Christopher B. Wilson, age 43, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born June 16, 1977 in Coldwater, a son to Ronald and Brenda (Tullos) Wilson. Christopher’s early years were spent in Bronson, MI and he moved to Sturgis during high school and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class …

Pauline Elizabeth Benes, age 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois. Pauline was born on October 27, 1933, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to Frieda Bechtold and Karl Weiss. She graduated in 1951 from Trade School sales in Germany. Pauline met George Benes while he was stationed in Frankfurt, and …

Lois A. Ware, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Jan. 11, 2021, at Thurston Woods Villa in Sturgis. She was born Nov. 4, 1929, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Ray B. and Phoebe (Rhode) Webster. Lois resided in Sturgis her entire life and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1947. She …

Barbara J. Vernon, age 98, of Plainwell, and a former resident of Sturgis, went to her heavenly home Sunday morning, Jan. 10, 2021, at her home. She was a Christmas baby, born Dec. 25, 1922, in Genesee County, a daughter of the late Frank and Enola (Dieck) Moore. Mrs. Vernon resided in Plainwell since 2014. She moved to Sturgis in …

James Luke Irwin, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, January 7, 2021 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born December 24, 1961 in Three Rivers, son of the late Donald Duane and Delores A. (Gulcynski) Irwin. James resided most of his life in the Sturgis, Constantine and Centreville area. He was currently working at Sturgis Molded …

With all the worry and anxiety we experienced in 2020, I think it would be a good idea if we all tried to relax a little more, starting right now. With a vaccine out now, the worry about getting the virus should be cut back a little. I think we should all continue to practice social distancing and take other …