Naomi A. (Bontrager) Kauffman, age 49, of Mendon, Mich., passed away, Saturday, May 16, 2015, at her home, after a two-year battle with cancer. She was born June 13, 1965, in Sturgis, a daughter to Alvin LaMarr and EstherMarie (Miller) Bontrager. She married Edward R Kauffman on July 6, 1989. Naomi was a homemaker and a member of the Old …

Kristine Anne “Kris” Reid, age 64, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at home. She was born May 11, 1950, in Three Rivers, Mich., a daughter to the late Douglas J. and Elizabeth (Meyer) Bullock. On Sunday, May 11, 2008, Kris and Mike celebrated their 25th anniversary at Sandal’s Whitehouse in Jamaica. To make the day even …

A former educator was sentenced Friday to 5- to 20 years in prison for the 2014 sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy who was also victimized five years earlier when the perpetrator was the boy’s fifth-grade teacher. Friday’s sentencing of David Wing, 60, of Three Rivers, caps allegations of inappropriate behavior with underage boys dating to 1997, when Wing was …

Janell Hart, a Three Rivers resident, has resigned her position as president of the St. Joseph County Health Center Board. Hart announced her resignation in a letter last week to health center officials and fellow board members. It was effective Wednesday. In her letter, Hart stated that during the process of building and rebuilding the board, the focus seemed to …

A downtown Sturgis redevelopment project on the city’s drawing board for nearly 18 months received unanimous final approval by the Sturgis City Commission last week after changes to the initial plan. Inquire Partners, developer for the planned Moso Village site bounded by Clay and John streets, recently modified the plan approved by the city in 2013, requiring both the city …

The St. Joseph County Marine Corps Detachment 1401 is seeking participants to join its members at Three Rivers’ annual Memorial Day parade next week. Detachment Chaplain Bill Stevens said the parade this year will step off at 10 a.m., one hour later than in the past. Consequently, the lineup for the parade is at 9 a.m. at the intersection of …

Harry J. Wilbur Sr., 57, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Monday, May 11, 2015, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a short illness. He was born Oct. 29, 1957, in Sturgis, a son of Gerald and Dorothy (Middaugh) Wilbur Sr. He was a Mottville resident for 30 years. He worked as a farmer and as a welder for …

Police say a passenger in a vehicle who was shot to death by police following a chase in southwestern Michigan had been wanted on a warrant for trespassing. State police say 37-year-old Sean Michael Pelletier of Portage had a high-powered military-style rifle and was shot Thursday afternoon following a crash. Police say he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police …

Mildred (Millie) H. (Luck) Hitzeman, 104, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Mildred was born on March 3, 1911 the second child of Herman and Agusta (Rhoda) Luck and was baptized on March 19, 1911 by the Rev. Louis Neuchterlein. Her Godparents were Nettie Brueck, a cousin and her Uncle August Luck. Mille …

A Marcellus man, who police said was distracted by his cell phone while driving, was involved in an accident earlier this week that resulted in injuries to two people. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday to Volinia Township, where the incident occurred on Penn Road, just north of Dutch Settlement Road. Andrew …