Raymond J. Przybysz, age 84, of Springfield, Michigan passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo.  Raymond was born on September 14, 1938 in South Bend to Roman and Victoria (Grontkowski) Przybysz. He had been employed with Excel Industries for 33 years.  On April 4, 1964 he married Eileen Frazier, who preceded him in death on …

Marjorie Eleanor (Brand) McConnell, age 90, of Portage, and longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away on February 28, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Marjorie was born on January 15, 1933 in Ann Arbor to George and Eleanor (Cook) Lutz and lived a long life filled with love. She married her 7th grade sweetheart, John Brand, on June 12, …

A Saginaw man was sentenced last week for his role in a crash that killed an elderly Schoolcraft couple nearly two years ago. Ezra Phillips is expected to spend up to 30 years in prison after the vehicle he was driving T-boned a car in which Joel Shaffer and Dolores Shaffer were occupants. Phillips, 28, was charged with operating while …

Sturgis Interim City Manager Andrew Kuk last week accepted an offer from the city commission to become city manager on a permanent basis. Kuk has served for more than 15 years as assistant city manager, assuming the interim primary role in January after former manager Mike Hughes accepted a new management position at a local manufacturing company. The city commission …

Organizers of the twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and recycling of electronics have announced an important message regarding the spring 2023 event. Pat Kulikoswki, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the county is working with a different drug and lab company that collects household hazardous waste. She said, unfortunately, it does not have enough staff …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a snowmobile trailer taken last month from a location in Sherman Township. Troopers were dispatched recently to a residence in the 64000 block of Prairie Lake Road, where the victim told authorities the theft occurred Feb. 18. The trailer is silver/aluminum in color, has a single axle and silver wheels. The …

If you are experiencing “Spring Fever”, there’s a place to go and get some relief. Kettles County Park, located just south of Gleason Road on South US-131, has 3500 square feet of frontage on the St. Joe River for you and the family to explore. The park has two ground water streams flowing through it, three miles of hiking trails, …

Lloyd A. Featherstone, age 85, of Constantine, died on Friday, March 10, 2023 at his home. He was born August 16, 1937 at the family home in Florence Township, a son of Leslie and Edna (Wright) Featherstone. Lloyd attended Constantine Schools and served in the United States Army National Guard from 1955 to 1961. On March 5, 1960 he married …

Katherine “Katie” A. Whitehead, age 49, of Trenary, Michigan died on Sunday, March 5, 2023. She was born on October 30, 1973 in Kalamazoo. Katie grew up in Three Rivers and graduated in 1991 from Three Rivers High School. While in school, she played softball and continued on to play in multiple church and bar leagues. Katie attended classes at …

William Louis Eckler Sr., age 57, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at his home. He was born July 9, 1965 in Rochester, New York. William graduated from Westview High School in Emma, Indiana with the class of 1983 and shortly after graduating move to Sturgis, and began working at Burr Oak Tool & Gauge, …