Western Michigan University trustees have approved a 3.2 percent increase in tuition and fees as part of a $388 million general fund budget for the coming fiscal year. The board of the Kalamazoo school approved the spending plan Wednesday. It covers the 12 months that begin July 1. The budget is up 2.6 percent from the current fiscal year and …

Emma Jane Markum, age 73, of Jones, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. She was born in Johnstown, PA on May 8, 1942 the daughter of the late Ray and Ruth (Weirick) Alwine. She graduated from high school in Pennsylvania, and later earned her Masters’ Degree in Computer Science and Business …

Overall public satisfaction with St. Joseph County Trial Courts was greater than the average of county courts statewide, according to Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. The results are based on a six-question, public-satisfaction survey administered at the behest of the State Court Administrative Office. Stutesman included links to the survey results as part of his annual Circuit Court report presented …

State police were called to Kline’s Resort this week in response to a larceny incident. According to a state police media release, a trolling motor was taken off a boat between 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The boat was parked alongside a barn on Silver Street south of Kline’s Resort Road. The motor was removed by force, causing …

Ailleen Bell Avery, age 67, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Ailleen was born in Three Rivers on June 5, 1947, a daughter of Leslie and Edna (Wright) Featherstone. On October 1, 1962 she married Donald E. Avery in Centreville. She had previously worked for Harmon Dudd Marina on Klinger …

Authorities say two Illinois residents have died after a set of tires on a semi-truck came loose along Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan, striking a car with three people inside. The Portage Department of Public Safety says the car’s 67-year-old backseat passenger Rebecca Avery of Glenview died at the scene of the Saturday crash and the 34-year-old driver Michael Ditewig …

Western Michigan authorities have arrested two women during a raid on the home of a man killed by police two weeks earlier. The Kalamazoo Gazette says police raided the Kalamazoo-area house late Saturday after reports of gunshots, and they seized 27 weapons that include loaded rifles, shotguns and handguns. Police say 39-year-old Amy Pelletier and 34-year-old Michelle Pelletier refused to …

Lou Ann Benson, age 50, of Burr Oak, died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at her home following a long illness. She was born in Kankakee, IL on June 23, 1964 the daughter of Willis F. and Virginia (Renner) Johnson. The family moved to Michigan in 1966 and she attended several local schools. She enjoyed outdoor activities, especially arrowhead hunting, fishing, …

James D Watson, age 58, of White Pigeon, MI, passed away suddenly Monday, June 1, 2015 at his home. James was born in Elkhart, IN on April 13, 1957, a son of Harold and Barb (Scott) Watson. He graduated from Constantine High School in 1976. On Feb. 7, 1981, he married Anne Romano in Goshen, IN. James was an equipment …

Lois M. Munson, age 84, of Constantine, MI, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Lois was born in Constantine on November 24, 1930, a daughter of Johnny and Lorene (Smith) Leister. She graduated from Constantine High School in 1948. On September 26, 1948 she married Richard W. Munson at the Messiah Lutheran Church parsonage …