A Three Rivers resident is one step closer to replacing Aaron Miller for 59th District state representative. St. Joseph County numbers show Steve Carra finished atop the five-person race to replace the term-limited Miller. Carra claimed 34 percent of the vote in St. Joseph County, handily topping the second-highest vote getter, Jack Coleman, who earned 24 percent of the vote. …

St. Joseph County’s incumbent sheriff Mark Lillywhite looks as if he’ll be returning to the post for four more years. The Republican candidate, who took office Feb. 1 to finish the 11 months left on Brad Balk’s term, was challenged by Florence Township resident Gordon Evilsizor. Lillywhite, a Three Rivers resident, had more than 80 percent of the vote Tuesday. …

As projected, the race for St. Joseph County treasurer was the most competitive local contest Tuesday. Kathy Humphreys squeaked out a win over Tammy Rigby, 4,930 votes to 4,500. The two, who are both Nottawa Township residents, work under incumbent Judie Ratering. Ratering announced earlier this year she would not be seeking re-election after serving since 2012.

A margin of three votes was the difference in the race for Fabius Township supervisor. Ken Linn claimed 391 votes while Dan Wilkins had 388 votes in a race to replace John Kroggel. Meanwhile, Tim Carls will be the new supervisor of Florence Township. Carls claimed 151 votes to Sarah Beckle’s 113. In Leonidas Township, incumbent Bernard Saxman will return …

Three townships had ballot questions Tuesday. Leonidas Township was seeking renewal of 1.7 mills over a four-year period for ambulance and fire protection. The proposal passed 132 to 77. Nottawa Township voters were asked to decide whether to renew 1.63 mills for a 10-year period to support library operations. The proposal passed 463 to 342. White Pigeon Township, too, was …

Wilma H. Peterson, age 93, formerly of Lake Templene, passed away on Monday, August 3, 2020 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Portage. Wilma was born in Holland, MI on April 30, 1927, a daughter of Hendrick and Anna Groeneveld.  On May 9, 1953, she married Louis E. Peterson in Grand Rapids; he preceded her in death on February 9, 2013. …

We celebrate the life of Andy Hale as his was a life well-lived and well-loved. A blond-haired, blue-eyed boy with a twinkle in his eye was born in 1940, the only child of Richard and Mary Hale, in Euclid, Ohio. Andy was a spirited young boy whose parents brought him on vacations to Klinger Lake and his love for the …

Charles Richard Klechak, age 72, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at his home. He was born July 31, 1948 in Three Rivers, a son of the late Raymond and Mary (Collopy) Klechak. Charlie resided in Sturgis for more than 40 years, coming from Kalamazoo. On April 6, 1973, he married Catherine A. Peacock. Charlie was a barber …

Where have all the cabooses gone? Trains don’t have them anymore. Why did they have them in the first place? Other than the locomotive itself, the caboose was the most interesting part of the train. As a kid, it was fun to watch the train as it passed by and wave to the man sitting by the window of the …

Jeffery Ray Humphries, age 65, longtime Sturgis resident, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at his home. He was born February 19, 1955 at Sturgis Hospital, son of the late Raymond and Violet (Wolfe) Humphries. Jeff was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1974 where he was a member of the football team and enjoyed Building …