Sturgis city commissioners must decide if they’ll spend a large share of this year’s local road millage to make an industrial access road a concrete surface, at the expense of doing some other city streets. City engineer Barry Cox last week said the initial plan for resurfacing Wade Road, off M- 66 South, called for asphalt paving. That total project …

Teresa Christine Smith, age 56, of Juneau, Alaska, and a former resident of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, at her home. She was born Feb.2, 1959, in Sturgis, a daughter of David Lee and Karen K. (Paxton) Gilbo. Teresa resided in Alaska for the past several years. She also lived in Oregon for more than 20 years and …

Authorities say one person died and more than a dozen were injured after about 60 vehicles were involved in a series of crashes in snowy weather along Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports three people were critically injured and 11 others, including a Van Buren County sheriff’s deputy, had minor injuries following the crashes near Hartford about …

Helen E. Engle, age 91, of Colon, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. She was born March 31, 1924, near Centreville, a daughter of the late Ed and Ranetta (Lahrke) Brueck. She had one brother, LeRoy Brueck, who preceded her in death. She was a graduate of Centreville High School and worked at …

Nottawa County Park, located on Sand Lake in Nottawa Township, will no longer operate as a campground and will instead shift its focus toward becoming a more family-friendly, day-use park. Parks and Recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Commission reached its decision last week after several months of debating the issue. The commission is …

Miscommunication, coupled with a language barrier and post-Vietnam War issues, resulted in tense moments Thursday at a Mottville residence. Michigan State Police were called to a home on Thomas Street to check on the well-being of a woman. Troopers had been led to believe the woman was being held at the home against her will. She had communicated to a …

The Three Rivers Public Library Earlier this month launched a program called “Born to Read in Three Rivers.” Babies born at Three Rivers Health will receive a sturdy board book, growth chart and informative materials on the importance of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing for the development of a child’s early literacy skills. Caryn Wilson, the library’s children’s librarian, said …

MOLINE, IL – After falling in overtime to the Quad City Mallards (19-16-1-2) by a score of 3-2 on Friday night, the Kalamazoo Wings (15-19-3-1) came back with a vengence on Sunday, defeating the Mallards 7-2. The seven goals mark a season-high for the K-Wings. The first period was all K-Wings, as they reeled off four unanwered goals. Just 17 …

Are we losing our ability to have conversations? Is the art of conversation becoming a lost art, in itself? It is hard to imagine that something as simple as having a conversation could become a thing of the past, but sadly, it feels that way, especially when you are talking to the younger generation. In a discussion with some colleagues …

Gov. Rick Snyder launched his second term touting Detroit’s recent emergence from bankruptcy and a new way of structuring state government so Michigan’s downtrodden residents could join a “river of opportunity.” A year later, a real river — the Flint River — and the fallout from a water crisis in another impoverished city have marred the Republican’s image as a …