Robert E. Brown, age 83, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away early Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 2015, at his home. He was born Sept. 6, 1931, in Sturgis, Mich., son of the late Charles and Irene ( Bordner) Brown. Bob was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Burr Oak area and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

This winter’s icy grip has some in the Michigan Legislature arguing once again that the state should allow schools more than six days for closures before they must make up the time. Schools are required by state law to provide at least 175 days of instruction each school year. Schools can be closed for up to six days, or the …

Edward Lee Kelly, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, February 20th, 2015 at the Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. Edward was born in Brookhaven, MS on January 17, 1942, a son of Della Mae (Kelly) Humphries.   On January 6, 1967, he married Delores Trull in Three Rivers.  Edward graduated from Constantine High School in 1963 and continued on to take welding …

Sharon Marie Jansen, age 74, of Three Rivers passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at her home. She was born in Centreville, MI on March 28, 1940 the daughter of Edward J. Bungart and Pearl Elma (Bickle) Bungart Wetherbee. Sharon has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She was united in marriage to John Micheal Jansen in 1959, …

A funeral mass was held Saturday in Kalamazoo for former U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen who died Tuesday. During his 30 years on the federal bench, the 83-year old Enslen ruled on a number of major cases in Michigan, one of which changed high school athletics. Enslen held that under Title IX of federal law guaranteeing equal education between the sexes, Michigan …

The man accused of setting the fire that destroyed a Kalamazoo adult store was arraigned Friday. 41-year-old Mitchell Hapner has been charged with one count of arson and one count of fleeing and eluding police. Hapner has told police he torched Hollywood Nights in an effort to eradicate  pornography from his neighborhood. Bond for Hapner was set at $250,000. Owners of the store …

Albert W. Pott, 60, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at The Laurels Nursing Home of Coldwater. Al is survived by his son, Andrew Pott of Grand Rapids; and his daughter, Stephanie Stankey of Kalamazoo, Mich.; along with his brother, Chris Pott of Sarasota, Fla. He’s also survived by his beloved dog named Calla. Al was born Dec. …

The village of Constantine has reached an agreement with Rexam for a refund of 87 1/2 percent of a tax abatement the company owes the village. The village agreed to a 12 1/2 percent reduction, including a waiver of any penalties and interest, dropping the amount it is owed from $280,000 to a little more than $252,000. Abatements were granted …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees has agreed to a contract with Follett Higher Education Group Inc. to privatize bookstore services. James O’Connor, vice president of sales and operations, said Follett operates 945 campus stores internationally, has 1,500 e-commerce sites and plans to invest more than $ 250 million in the business over the next 36 months. Follett offers …

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded this week to a collision between a passenger vehicle and a plow truck. The incident occurred at 12:12 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 12, just east of Cassopolis Road in Mason Township. Deputies said an eastbound car driven by 39-year-old Erek Szymanski, of Mishawaka, crossed the centerline after the driver fell asleep. His vehicle struck a …