Brian (Bic) Keith Johnson, age 60, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at home. He was born Sept. 4, 1960, in Breckenridge, Minn. He was a son of the late Omer and Phyllis (Blouin) Johnson. Brian graduated from Wyndmere High School in 1978. He served in the United States Army as a radio operator and was stationed in …

John G. “The Bug” Kasner, age 70, of Constantine, died Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at his home. He was born March 20, 1951 in Highland Park, MI a son of Gerald and Edna (Phelps) Kasner. He graduated from Lapeer High School and went on to serve in the United States Army from 1981 to 1983. On May 3, 1980 he …

Thirteen of St. Joseph County’s 16 townships plan to take part in the 2021 matching-fund, road-improvement offer made by the county’s road commission. St. Joseph County Commissioner Dan Czajkowski cited the information during the board’s meeting Tuesday. He said the matter was discussed at a recent Roads Committee meeting, which typically involves township officials and representatives from the road commission. …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced St. Joseph County is nearing 100 COVID-related deaths. Through last week, the county had recorded 91 deaths that agency officials said are attributed to COVID-19. The number of cumulative cases in St. Joseph County since March 2020 is more than 4,500. Based on statistics provided by the agency, daily cases were steadily declining …

Several minor issues were resolved during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Two people were re-appointed to the Veteran’s Affairs Board: Park Township resident William Thompson and Bill Walters of Nottawa Township. Their terms are for a four-year period. Also, commissioners agreed to dedicate funds it received through the recent sale of the Covered Bridge Healthcare building into the county’s capital-improvement fund. …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a state of emergency in order to continue broadcasting its meetings electronically. During their first in-person meeting since fall, commissioners Tuesday agreed they will stick to assembling in person for their twice-a-month board meetings. The five-member commission, however, concurred it would be prudent to maintain public broadcast of their meetings via Zoom …

Discussions between Park Township and the Three Rivers Public Library appear to have ended, based on the outcome of a meeting between the two sides last week. Township officials and members of the library board have reached an impasse over renewal of a contract, which involves the township’s annual contribution to the library in exchange for its residents having in-district …

State Rep. Steve Carra has announced he plans to seek the U.S. Congressional 6th District seat in the 2022 mid-term election. The seat is currently held by Fred Upton. Carra was elected to the 59th House District in November after emerging from a field of five candidates in the August primary. He succeeded term-limited Aaron Miller. Carra staged a Congressional …

A partnership involving Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Arbor Day Foundation has declared a St. Joseph County community a “Tree City USA” honoree for 2020. The city of Sturgis was announced as one of 124 Michigan communities to receive the honor. The certification is for work accomplished during 2020. All recipients will receive their reward by the end …

Grace I. Patrick, age 95, of Sturgis, went to be with her Lord and Savior Easter morning, Sunday, April 4, 2021, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born March 28, 1926, at her parents’ farm on Decker Road in Colon, a daughter of the late Zoe and Sadie (Pulver) Flanders. As a youngster, she lived in South Colon, …