The Leo Club, a high school service group hosted by the Sturgis Lions Club, was recently chartered into the national organization. The group needed at least 35 high school members in the Leo Club to be considered for the charter, said Frank Iannarelli, president of Sturgis Lions Club. That goal has been reached and there is one honorary member, Abdiel …

Future city of Sturgis employees will have new pension rules designed to reduce the city’s future pension costs. Under the proposed amendment to city ordinance, new hires beginning Jan. 1 will have to work 10 years, rather than the current eight, to be vested in the municipal retirement plan. In addition, the city is expected to begin requiring all new …

Ronald Sterling “Ron” King, age 82, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at Riverview Manor. He was born in Grand Rapids on Sep. 24, 1933 the son of Sterling M. and Alice L. (Kobb) King. He attended Grand Rapids Central High School, and served in the U.S. Navy. Ron was a route driver for Oven Fresh Bakery, Shaffer …

Sharon Jean Buell, 71, of Bronson and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home surrounded by her loving family. Sharon was born in Niles on Sept. 10, 1944 the daughter of the late Clifford and Mary (Okonski) Helminen. Sharon owned and operated the B & S Stop and Shop in …

A 43-year-old Cassopolis man has died in a one-vehicle accident in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called around 1 a.m. Wednesday to Dutch Settlement Road, east of Lawrence Road. Investigators said the vehicle was traveling east on Dutch Settlement Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. Deputies attempted to revive the subject …

M-66 in Sherman Township was closed for about two hours this week after a semi tractor-trailer lost its load of lumber. Sheriff’s department officials said 51-year-old Bryan Wolfe of Saginaw was driving south on M-66 around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, when he stopped to avoid a traffic backup near Hackman Road. His load of lumber broke free and crashed through the …

A pair of Sturgis service organizations teamed up earlier this month to continue a longstanding local holiday tradition. Members from Sturgis Elks and the city’s Kiwanis clubs joined for the annual “Boots and Shoes” giveaway. The Elks club provides children with either a new pair of shoes or boots with footwear provided at cost by Willer’s Shoes in downtown Sturgis. …

Re-examination of downtown Sturgis traffic patterns prompted by the Moso Village development has resulted in a proposed order, changing North Street to two-way traffic from U.S. 12 to West Hatch Street. The Sturgis City Commission earlier this month approved the direction that would reverse a 2007 decision, which had continued restricting the downtown street to northbound only traffic. Representatives from …

Patty Lou Hagenbuch, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 at the age of 80. Pat was born to parents Leslie and Marie (Prutzman) Hagenbuch on April 9, 1935 in Constantine. She grew up on the family farm, the fourth of five sisters and lived her entire life in the Three Rivers area. She cared for both …

Darlene Joy Mathews, age 74, formerly of Mendon died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015 at her Athens home following a one year illness. She was born in Parkville, MI on Nov. 12, 1941 the daughter of Glen and Jeannette (Ward) Dentler. She attended the Parkville School and Three Rivers High School. Darlene loved children. She and her family cared for 92 …