Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she has the authority to issue a second stay-at-home order to curb the spiking coronavirus if necessary and called a comment by an adviser to President Donald Trump urging people to “rise up” against Michigan’s latest restrictions “incredibly reckless.” The Democratic governor spoke with Capitol reporters a day after announcing limits amid a surge of COVID-19 cases …

Kathleen Louise Smith, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, Nov. 16, 2020, at her home. She was born Feb. 12, 1946, in Hillsdale County, a daughter of the late Clifford and Genevieve (Booth) Spence. Kathleen resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1964. She retired …

Linda Ann Hart, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, Nov. 14, 2020, at her home. She was born June 29, 1940, in Charleston, W.Va., a daughter of the late Donald Melva and Luzern Sylvia (Greathouse) Patterson. Linda resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1958. She …

Laura Lee Gould, age 52, of Sturgis,  passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Jan. 29, 1968 in Sturgis, a daughter to Ernest and Sandra (Hartman) Miller. On June 6, 2012 she married Guy Gould. Laura was a homemaker and enjoyed coloring, crocheting, and spending time with her grandchildren. Surviving are her husband: …

Arden Keith Stroup, age 80, of Elkhart, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital due to complication of COVID-19. He was born December 17, 1939 in Sturgis, son of the late Lawrence and Mary (Haskins) Stroup. Arden resided in Elkhart for the past 23 years coming from Howe, Indiana. He was first married to Mary E. Birky …

William R. Kelley, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Arrangements will be announced by Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis.

Rain, cool temperatures and 40 mph winds created challenges for emergency responders searching for a lost North Carolina man on opening day of the 2020 firearm deer season. “Sunday night, Conservation Officer Amanda McCurdy coordinated a successful multiagency search and rescue for a missing hunter,” said Chief Gary Hagler, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. “First responders faced …

A White Pigeon man died in a two-vehicle collision Friday evening in Florence Township. State police said 40-year-old Clarence Bryant was driving south on Sevison Road when his vehicle failed to stop at the intersection of Dickinson Road and collided with an eastbound car. Its driver was treated at Sturgis Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Bryant died at the scene, authorities …

Two people died in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Marcellus Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday to investigate a personal-injury incident near the intersection of M-40 and Dutch Settlement Road. Behnke said a car driven by 69-year-old Marcellus resident Stanley Bridges was traveling north on M-40 when it left …

Lockport Township officials have issued a boil water notice after the township’s water system detected the presence of coliform bacteria in its supply. Deputy clerk Rhonda Wright said the water department office routinely monitors for the presence of drinking water contaminants and recent water samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria. Wright advised residents to not drink tap water without boiling …