Fire damaged or destroyed at least five homes in Kalamazoo, including one where an 84-year-old woman had lived for more than four decades, authorities said Wednesday. The woman was not injured, the Department of Public Safety said. The other properties were vacant. The fires were reported around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Kalamazoo, which was under a 7 p.m. curfew, has been …

Jeffery Alan Miller, affectionately known as Jeff, age 51, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed from this life on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Portland, Texas. Jeff was born to Ray and Pat Miller on July 14, 1968 in South Bend. He was a 1986 graduate of White Pigeon High School, and faithfully served his country with the United States …

Police officers in Kalamazoo were outnumbered 50-to-1 before using tear gas and chemical spray in the wee hours Tuesday to get rid of protesters and stop damage at downtown businesses, authorities said. “It was not our community’s finest hour,” said Karianne Thomas, chief of public safety. She said peaceful protests Monday over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned …

Edna Artley Howard, age 92, of Sturgis, died Sunday morning, May 31, 2020 at her home surrounded by her children. She was born in Rockwood, Michigan, the daughter of the late J. Kenneth and Ruth (Janney) Artley. Mrs. Howard was a graduate of Monroe High School. She furthered her education at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant where she earned …

Richard A. “Dick” Schaeffer, age 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children, on Friday, May 29, 2020. Dick was born Feb. 4, 1932, in Sturgis, to Harold A. and Kathryn (née Bassett) Schaeffer. His parents’ only and beloved child, Dick was raised on the family farm in White Pigeon, which was purchased by his grandfather, Daniel Erastus Schaeffer, in …

Bonnie Ropp Gray, age 74, of Sturgis, died on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at her home. She was born Oct. 17, 1945, to Anna (Smucker) and Bill Ropp in Detroit. Bonnie lived and attended schools in Detroit and then moved with her family to Goshen around 1963. She met Don Gray on Oct. 16, 1971, and they were married nine …

The Rev. Darrell A. Baum, age 93, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning May 28, 2020 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born July 11, 1926 in Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania son of the late Don D. and Bessie (Adams) Baum. Pastor Baum resided in the Michiana area since 1972 coming from Marion, Indiana and his …

April’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 30.3 percent, as every county in the state experienced an increase during what was the first full month of jobs impacted by COVID-19. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which showed the county’s jump in unemployment, was released Friday. St. Joseph County was above the …

Michigan Department of Transportation has provided a weekly update on its work related to the U.S. 131 redevelopment project. MDOT said Stage 5 traffic pattern continues, with all traffic using a single lane in the southbound side of the highway. Some utility relocation through the length of the project will continue this week. Meanwhile, West Michigan Avenue paving is complete …

Last week I wrote a lot about naps and sleep. Before I continue with this week’s column, I’d like to share a few more ideas that might help you nap a little better. I find it ironic how, as a baby, we all spent a lot of time napping. As we got older, naps were not as welcome, because it …