Welcome to 2020. I didn’t stay up long enough New Year’s Eve to watch the ball drop in Times Square in New York City. It was rumored that Barbara Walters might host the event so that at the stroke of midnight, she could say, “I’m Barbara Walters and this is 20/20.” Whether this happened or not, I’m sure I’ll find …

Gregory “Chief” Eugene Edwards, age 65, of Three Rivers, passed away at his home with his family following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia on Friday, January 3, 2020.  He was born on January 13, 1954 in Flint, MI the son of Robert McGruder and Mareno Edwards. Greg attended school in his early years in Flint, moving to Sturgis …

A man who died after falling from a kayak into a southwestern Michigan river during a New Year’s Day excursion with friends has been identified as an Indiana man. Niles police say 40-year-old Jean Claude Mutabazi of South Bend was pronounced dead Wednesday after being pulled from the St. Joseph River. Police say Mutabazi was kayaking Wednesday morning with three …

About 300,000 hens have died in a barn fire at a southwestern Michigan poultry farm. WWMT-TV reports that the blaze started about 11 a.m. Friday at the Otsego Township farm. The barn was destroyed. Konos Inc. spokesman Brian Burch tells the television station that about 50 people work at the cage-free farm. About 250,000 hens in a second barn were …

An overhaul of Michigan’s auto insurance system topped the list of new laws in 2019. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers also legalized sports betting and online gambling, and enacted a measure to stop automatically treating 17-year-old offenders as adults in the criminal justice system. The Democratic governor signed 178 bills in the first year of divided government since 2010. She …

Inez Salinas, age 71, of Mendon, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Borgess Medical Center.  She was born in Weslaco, TX on March 22, 1948 the daughter of Martin and Maria (Bernal) Mireles. Inez was united in marriage to Mario in 1964. Together they moved to Mendon from Donna, Texas shortly after they wed.  Inez enjoyed the peacefulness …

Sharon Ann Mercer, age 74 of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Sharon was born in Three Rivers on January 13, 1945, a daughter of June (Conder) and William Mercer. She attended Constantine schools, and liked to babysit. Surviving are her daughter Julia Ann Mercer, Sturgis; brother Jerry Mercer, Hartford; sister …

Phillip Jerry Eberhard, age 78 years of Hudson, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at his home. He was born on June 8, 1941, in Sturgis, the son of Phillip J. and Violet H. (Rubley) Eberhard. Phil graduated from Colon High School in 1959. He graduated from Central Michigan University with a teaching degree and later eared his Master’s in …

Ralph Duane Adams, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at his home. He was born April 24, 1934, in LaGrange, only child of Ora Raymond and Thelma (August) Adams. Ralph resided most of his life in Sturgis. His early life was spent in Howe, Ind. He was a graduate of Lima High School with the …

Authorities say a 16-year-old girl visiting Lake Michigan for the first time is missing and presumed drowned after apparently being swept into the water by a large wave. The Ottawa County sheriff’s office says Eliza Trainer and an 18-year-old friend were knocked into Lake Michigan off Holland State Park about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Trainer’s friend was able to get out …