A judge has set aside a life sentence for a man who was convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend when they were teenagers and burying her body in southwestern Michigan. The decision Monday by a Cass County judge means 43-year-old Robert Leamon will get a new sentence and a chance for parole. Rebecca Stowe was strangled, and her body was …

Roy R. Moore Jr., age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 4, 1950, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of the late Roy R. and Letha Elizabeth “Betty” (Stewart) Moore. Roy resided in Sturgis since 1978, coming from California. His early life was lived in Ohio. He …

Leah Marie (Button) Bloom, age 90, a lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at her home. She was born July 7, 1929, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Ertis and Clara (Reading) Poorman. Leah was first married to Richard Button, who preceded her in death, and later to Glenn Bloom, who also preceded her in death. …

Phyllis Jean Winston, age 78, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Phyllis was born June 17, 1941, in Coldwater, a daughter of the late James and Ruth (Bergman) Dery. Phyllis graduated from Coldwater High School with the class of 1959. She continued her education at Western Michigan University, where she obtained a …

Ann M. Studabaker, age 66, of Sturgis, died Dec. 11, 2019, at her home. She was born Nov. 7, 1953, in Jacksonville, Fla., a daughter of Carlos G. and Vera M. (Long) Studabaker. A Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon resident, she served in the U.S. Navy Waves. She was employed by Kirsch Company for 27 years and Walmart. She …

Martha Louise Hochstetler, age 94, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at Heartland Nursing Home. She was born October 28, 1925 in South Bend, a daughter of Martin and Hazel (Buckingham) Garrett. She had one brother, Robert, and one twin sister, Marian. She attended elementary school in Glenwood, MI and graduated from Dowagiac High in 1943. Continuing her education, …

Sheriff Brad Balk reports that deputies on Tuesday at approximately 7pm, responded to the intersection of US-131 and Riverside Drive in Constantine Township for a two vehicle crash. Two females ages 27 and 31, accompanied by a 36-year-old male all from Elkhart, turned southbound on a northbound lane on US-131 from Riverside Drive. The vehicle turned into oncoming traffic, colliding …

A 102-year-old man who is Indiana’s oldest state employee is retiring after nearly six decades on the job, saying that “your body tells you when it’s time to go.” Bob Vollmer plans to report to work for the last time Feb. 6 as a surveyor for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. He joined the DNR in 1962. The World …

Pamela S. Conley, age 59, of Burr Oak, passed away early Wednesday morning, Jan. 15, 2020, at her home. She was born Nov. 3, 1960, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Maynard and Martha Della (Miller) Marchand. Pam resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area her entire life. On April 21, 2000, she married Carlos “Bud” Conley in …

Catherine Louise (Stump) Roberts, age 80, of Constantine, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 at Three Rivers Health surrounded by her loving family.  Catherine was born on April 28th, 1939 in Constantine, the daughter of the late Samuel and Marian (Kindig) Stump. Mrs. Roberts graduated from Constantine High School in 1957.  On May 30th, 1958­ Catherine was united …