A man in charge of transportation at a southwestern Michigan school district has died while shoveling snow. Portage district officials say Mike Westbrook died Saturday from a heart attack. Superintendent Mark Bielang told families that Westbrook’s “work impacted every student who rides a bus.” He says Westbrook was “masterful” at bus logistics in the Kalamazoo-area district. More than 5,000 Portage …

Gloria M. Gunthorp, age 77, of Howe, died  on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Life Care Center of LaGrange. Mrs. Gunthorp was born Oct. 22, 1941, in Spring Port, Mich., to Albert R. and Dorothy M. (Babcock) Baum. Living in the Howe area for many years, she moved to the area from Colon in 1962. Gloria was a homemaker and …

Betty A. Bognar, age 73, of South Bend, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Mishawaka, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon, where services will be held at 1 p.m.. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in White Pigeon.

Bonnie May Carta, age 85, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 at her home. She was born in Indiana on Jan. 26, 1933 the daughter of Andrew and Gertrude (Gottschalk) Lewis. The family moved to Three Rivers when she entered the ninth grade, and Bonnie graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1951. She met …

Michael J. Baker, 62, of Kalamazoo, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at his home, following an extended illness. Cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at a later date at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

Jackie L. Stryker, age 56, of Sturgis, died Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, following an extended illness. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

George Nazarowff, age 83, of Lake Templene, Sturgis, passed away Thursday, January 17th, at Borgess Medical Center. George was born in Dearborn on November 24, 1935, a son of the late Norman and Victoria (Prebosky) Nazarowff. He graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn in 1953. On November 26, 1955, he married Patricia Przybylowski in Dearborn. Together, they had three …

Maxine Loraine (Reiling) Parish was born April 23, 1916, in Battle Creek. When Maxine was a young girl, her parents, John L. Reiling and Sophia (Bent) Reiling, moved the family to Three Rivers. Maxine graduated in 1934, from Lima High School in Howe, Ind. Maxine married Vernal Parish and they lived in Ontario, Ind. Maxine and Vernal owned and operated …

The Kalamazoo Wings (17-18-0-2) and Fort Wayne Komets (21-16-0-1) combined for 18 goals and 87 shots in a wild game on Wednesday night. In the end, it was the K-Wings who came away with the 10-8 victory.  Tanner Sorenson led the K-Wings with a 6-point night, scoring two goals and adding four assists.   Chris Collins and Reid Gardiner each scored …

Sometime this year, many of you will leave the workplace and begin the life of a retiree. This should mean that you’ll have more time on your hands. In most cases, this doesn’t work out, because once you retire, you find that you become busier with other activities and don’t have time to work. I am speaking from experience. Once …