Valerie Ranee (Harvey) Gregrich, age 62, of White Pigeon, passed away Saturday, April 25th, at Borgess Medical Center. She was born on January 3, 1953, in Colon, a daughter of Miller Earl and Alberta (Schrader) Harvey. On June 17, 1995, she married Philip Gregrich. He preceded her in death on August 14, 2014. Valerie worked at Coachmen Industries, Middlebury, for …

The Wildcat golf team had their best team score of the year at Allegan’s jamboree on the Red Fox nine at Cheshire Hills Golf Course. The squad had a total of 179, good for third overall. The totals looked like this: Otsego 164 Plainwell 176 TR 179 Vicksburg 180 Sturgis 185 Allegan 189 The individual scores were, Collin Meyer 40, …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.6 percent March unemployment rate was more than February’s 4.5 percent. March’s unemployment rate, however, was 2 percent less than the same month one …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz has charged Kurt DeYoung, 46, with two counts of home invasion and two counts of larceny in a building. The charges were issued Wednesday after the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office received a warrant request late in the afternoon the day before. The charges are based on an incident that occurred earlier this month at Diamond …

The city of Sturgis recorded an 8.1 percent gain in its overall financial position last fiscal year, posting a worth of just over $71 million at the end of the 2014 fiscal year, according to a recent independent audit. The audit, presented to the Sturgis City Commission last week, showed the city collected about $16.5 million in governmental operating revenue …

Colon Elementary School teachers Adam and Kylie Bowen won the second annual Dancing With the St. Joseph County Stars competition Friday at Three Rivers High School. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the event featured five couples. The Bowens – Adam teaches fifth- and sixth-grade science and Kylie is a kindergarten …

Donald Hochstetler, age 90, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Bronson Hospital. He was born November 23, 1924 in Elkhart IN, son of Fred & Iva (Heckaman) Hochstetler. In 1944, he met the love of his life, Martha Garrett, and married June 23, 1946 in Dowagiac, MI. They bought the family farm and continued its operation, with their children, …

A Cassopolis man was killed in a pedestrian traffic accident 3 miles south of Jones early Sunday at 1:20am. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says 25-year-old Duke Gowens was walking in the northbound lane of M-40, just north of Withers Street in Newberg Township, when he was struck by an unknown vehicle traveling north. Gowens was pronounced dead at the …

Michigan agriculture officials are monitoring a bird flu outbreak that’s affected other Midwest states and say they’re ready to respond if needed. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development spokeswoman Jennifer Holton says in an email that the state don’t have any cases at this time. She says the department is “preparing to respond quickly, effectively and efficiently” if bird …

Robert Montgomery McClain, age 92, of Three Rivers, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Nottawa Township on Aug. 21, 1922 the son of Robert John and Martha (Rench) McClain and has been a lifetime resident of the Mendon area. He attended the Cupp Country School and worked on the …