New Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is urging lawmakers to let absentee ballots be counted before Election Day and to make other changes following the passage of a ballot initiative that expanded voting options in Michigan. The Democrat says the number of absentee ballots is expected to increase significantly now that people can vote absentee for any reason. She wants …

Rhea M. Long, age 79, Nottawa, passed away on Friday, March 8, 2019 surrounded by her family at Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo.  She was born in LaGrange on March 30, 1939, a daughter of Paul and Ella (Sams) High.Rhea attended Ashley Schools in Indiana. In 1955, she married Arnold Long in Angola.  He preceded her in death on January 26, 2016. …

Girl’s Basketball: Edwardsburg 56,  Three Rivers 42 Mendon 45,  Decatur 26 Centreville 61,  Constantine 48

Idella Katherine Troyer, age 87, of Sturgis, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Oct. 10, 1931 in Miami County, Indiana a daughter to the late Willard and Norma (Miller) Sommers. Idella moved to Sturgis in August of 2000 from LaGrange, Indiana. On Nov. 25, 1962 …

Grace Eloise Pridgeon, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday evening, March 6, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Fawn River Township, a daughter of the late Ora and Mary Ann (Miller) Schrock. Grace was a lifelong Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Centreville High School with the class of 1955. …

Three Rivers 61, Paw Paw 38 Battle Creek Central 86, Sturgis 34 Mendon 68, Burr Oak 29 Centreville 36, White Pigeon 22 Edwardsburg 61, Vicksburg 28

Clifford “Cliff” L. Bowlby, age 68, of Bristol, passed away at Elkhart General Hospital on Friday, March 1, 2019. He was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 8, 1951 to the late Hiram and Hazel (Kreitzer) Bowlby. He was married to his wife, Virginia “Polly” Hicks, on April 16, 1977 who survives at home after 42 years. He is also …

Authorities say four cattle died when the trailer hauling them crashed in icy and snowy conditions in southwestern Michigan. Michigan State Police officials say the semi-trailer was hauling more than 30 cattle early Wednesday when it flipped on Interstate 94 in Van Buren County’s Lawrence Township. Two people in the vehicle weren’t injured. The crash scene took several hours to …

Florence Alice Roberts, age 89, died on Sunday, March 3, 2019. In accordance with Florence’s wishes cremation will be conducted and no public services will be held at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Hudsonville Unity Christian 89,  Three Rivers 51 Cassopolis 59, Union City 29 Schoolcraft 42, Niles Brandywine 33 Benton Harbor 63, Otsego 59