Michael Austermann, first precinct commissioner for the city of Sturgis, has announced his resignation, effective immediately. Austermann cited health issues as the reason behind the decision. To fill the vacant board seat, the city will accept letters of interest, which must be submitted to the city clerk by Nov. 5. Prospects must be registered voters who reside in Precinct 1. …

Prosecutors say a charge against a 12-year-old southwestern Michigan boy in the accidental shooting death of a 28-year-old family friend has been dismissed. Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that the decision was made last week after the boy was found not competent to stand trial in juvenile court on a misdemeanor charge of careless …

Too many hungry deer are being blamed for the end of a 30-year Christmas tradition in southwestern Michigan. Mott’s Christmas Barn in Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County is closing. The deer population can’t be controlled, and the animals have been munching on trees. Customers have traveled to the farm each year to cut down a Christmas tree. Owner Mardee Mott tells …

The state Supreme Court won’t overturn a decision that grants a new trial to a man convicted in the death of his half brother in southwestern Michigan. The court last week declined to take an appeal from prosecutors in the case of Antonio Lewis. He was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Ivory Shaver, whose body was found …

JaAnn M. Stasiak, age 80, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at White Oaks Assisted Living Center in Lawton. She was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 8, 1935 the daughter of Marion and Arlene (Bernhardt) Longacre, and was a lifetime resident of the Three Rivers area. She graduated from Three Rivers High School and had attended the …

Thomas (Tom) Chiddister, age 81, of Three Rivers, Michigan went to be with his Lord and savior on October 16, 2015, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. He was born on October 30, 1933, in Cassopolis, Michigan. Tom retired from his own saw sharping business (Quality Tool). He also worked at North American Products, …

Glen L. Knepper, age 86, of Mendon, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Wawaka, Indiana on Dec. 3, 1928 the son of the late Lewis C. and Edna E. (Cook) Knepper. He attended elementary school in Indiana and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. Glen joined the United States Air Force, …

Mary Naomi Covert Strawser, 90, of White Pigeon, passed away on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at Riverview Manor, Three Rivers. Mary was born on Feb. 24, 1925 in Climax to the late Ezra and Bessie (Dunithan) Covert. She married Richard (Dick) Strawser on March 19, 1946 in Sturgis. She is survived by a son, Randy Strawser and a daughter, Cindy …

A 47-year-old Three Rivers man was found guilty on eight charges of sexual-related offenses following a trial last week in Centreville. A jury in St. Joseph County Circuit Court on Thursday found Cary Jones guilty on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes. Jones was a live-in boyfriend of the …

Three Rivers Health is staging an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at its in-patient rehabilitation pavilion. Located at 701 S. Health Parkway, the facility during its open house will include a number of vendor booths such as Three Rivers Health Stroke Support Group, Speech Support Group, Center for Wound Healing and Outpatient Physical Therapies.