Amanda “Amy” Dawn McEntire, 42, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, January 23,2019 losing her battle with congestive heart failure at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Amy was born on October 7, 1976 in Niles.  A strong-willed and spirited child, Amy was fiercely independent and always out to show the world she could do anything; and she did. She was a woman …

The Kalamazoo Wings (20-20-0-2) evened their record with a pair of wins over the weekend, but still find themselves in last place in the Central Division. On Friday, the K-Wings hosted the Rapid City Rush.  Taking a 1-0 lead in the first period, Kyle Thomas scored his sixth goal of the year to give the home team the early advantage. …

A southwestern Michigan police officer who fired five shots at a stolen car has been acquitted of reckless discharge of a gun. A jury in Van Buren County returned the verdict Friday. Chelsey Omilian was a Mattawan officer in November 2017 when she fired at a Chevrolet Impala. A woman inside the car was injured. Omilian’s lawyer says she fired …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to the figure from the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s unemployment rate for December was 3.9 percent again. St. Joseph County was below the state unemployment average, which was 4 percent for the month. The agency said …

Ice was cited as the culprit of a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 11 p.m. Friday to the intersection of M-60 and Calvin Center Road. Investigators said Noe Herrero, a 58-year-old Elkhart resident, was unable to stop his vehicle on Calvin Center Road due to the …

With the coldest weather of the season on tap over the next two to three days, Sturgis Department of Public Services is asking residents to be conscious of freezing water lines. Considering the below-zero temperature predictions, conditions are suitable for water lines to freeze, DPS officials said. To help prevent lines from freezing, city officials are recommending residents allow a …

The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District board last week approved two new positions. The first is a support specialist to work in the human resources and business office. The other is a braillist to translate and transcribe activities to support the vision team and programs for visually impaired students are both needed. The board also approved revised budgets for …

Michael Todd Richmond, age 52, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 25, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Mike was born on March 7, 1966 in Paw Paw, the son of the late Ralph C. and Jacqueline (Keene) Richmond. Mike graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1984. He worked as a skilled tradesman for …

The City of Sturgis has declared a city-wide snow removal emergency due to forecast snow accumulations of greater than four inches. Due to the high snowfall forecast, any vehicle parked on the roadway will be towed. By ordinance, during a declared snow removal emergency parking is prohibited on all City streets. Under Sec. 58-155 of the City of Sturgis Code …

Manford O. Leeth, 92, of Sturgis, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the Cambrian Assisted Living in Tecumseh, Mich., following a short illness. He was born Sept. 23, 1926, in Sturgis, the son of Jesse and Josephine (Thompson) Leeth. He was a resident of Sturgis and White Pigeon most of his life and was employed as an offset print operator …