Authorities say the pilot of a small plane has died after a crash at a southwestern Michigan airport. The plane crashed Thursday evening at Battle Creek’s W.K. Kellogg Airport, killing 48-year-old William Pergerson II. He was the lone occupant. Officials say he took off from the airport, began experiencing difficulty and tried to land the plane. On the second landing …

A Marcellus man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving struck a parked car in downtown Marcellus this week. Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials said Ronald Mikel, 50, was driving east on Main Street shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, when he became distracted and the motorcycle swerved to the right. As a result, it hit a parked car, causing …

The Michigan National Guard has announced it plans to close the Sturgis Armory in an effort to downsize its statewide footprint. City manager Mike Hughes said he was recently notified of the planned closing through a letter from Michigan National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Stone. No date was announced, but Hughes said he expects the closure to occur relatively soon. …

Bruce Harker of the Sturgis Fire Department was honored recently during a pinning ceremony. According to Director of Public Safety Geoff Smith, Harker has been promoted to shift commander. Harker received his pins, and his oath was reinstated by city clerk Ken Rhodes. Harker has been a part of the Sturgis Fire Department since 2000 and a city employee since …

The Next Generation Fund for Sturgis recently awarded grants in support of three community programs and projects. The recipients are: Eastwood School, $200 for the Eastwood Giving Garden; Sturgis Elks Club, $100 toward its annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive; and Doyle Community Center, $100 to assist in providing open-gym hours at no charge for 6th- through 12th-grade students on school-vacation days. …

Joyce Schrader, age 89, formerly of Mendon, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015 at Thurston Woods in Sturgis. She was born near Leonidas on Sep. 11, 1925 the daughter of Walter W. and Josephine (Bucknell) Barnes and graduated from Colon High School in 1944. Joyce was married to Archie Hawver on Aug. 19, 1944 in Coldwater and they were later divorced. …

Brian Kent Christophel, age 58, of Coldwater, passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the Community Health Center in Coldwater. Brian was born in LaGrange, IN on August 4, 1957, a son of Donald and Elizabeth “Betty” (Black) Christophel. Surviving are his sisters Dawn “Carolyn” (Tom) Jones, Constantine, Gaile (Jerry) Schroeder, Cassopolis; brothers Mike (Terri) Christophel, Three Rivers, Chris (Carolyn) …

Hello. My name is Kelly and I am a long-haired, buff color male kitten. If you are looking for a kitten who is full of vim and vinegar, I am your little man. I am only 3 months old and have lots of energy but I also like to cuddle and am very loving. I surely would like to have …

A 22-year-old Sturgis resident died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Florence Township. State police said Jesse Haack was the operator of a vehicle backing out of a driveway on Dickinson Road shortly before 7 p.m., when it was struck by a westbound car driven by Delrico McGee, 20, of Constantine. The incident took place just west of Sevison …

A Jackson County judge declared Tuesday that the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners did not follow proper procedure when voting last week to remove three people from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County. As a result, Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and board president Barb Parker were reinstated to the 12-member panel …