State Rep. Aaron Miller was joined Tuesday on the House floor by Cass County Prosecuting Attorney Victor Fitz for Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address in Lansing. The governor outlined his plans for his second term during the speech. Lawmakers are allowed one floor guest during the annual speech. Fitz is also president of the Michigan Prosecuting Attorneys …

A few personnel matters were approved during last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Erin Goff was hired as community corrections coordinator at more than $18 an hour, while Travis Balk was hired as a part-time corrections officer at a rate of more than $16 an hour. Also, a pay increase of 29 cents per hour was approved …

User fees are what keep Michigan state campgrounds running, and officials say the first rate increases in seven years are needed to cover the rising costs of maintaining and operating the facilities. The amount of the increase at a particular site depends on its popularity, said parks and recreation chief Ron Olson of the Department of Natural Resources. At those …

Richard David “Rick” Potts, age 38, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at his home. He was born June 5, 1976, in Sturgis, a son of David and Janice (Machan) Potts. Rick was a lifelong Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1995. He continued his education at Kalamazoo Valley Community …

Kenneth L. Airgood, 78, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. He was born Aug. 28, 1936, in White Pigeon, a son of Leland K. and Katherine J. (Rudloff ) Airgood. He lived all his life in White Pigeon, except for four years in the U.S. Navy, where he …

The city of Sturgis has delayed the opening of its downtown ice skating rink because of damage and vandalism. The rink liner was damaged when someone entered the fenced-in area before it was ready for use. Vandalism included panels that were pulled up. City officials are seeking tips from the public as they work to open the rink. (AP)

Marilyn Ruth DePlanche, age 83, of Mendon, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Mendon on Jan. 28, 1931 the daughter of Donald C. and Alma G. (Bartholomew) Happel. She graduated from Mendon High School where she later worked as a custodian. Marilyn was a homemaker who also worked at G-W Pizza …

Robert Lee “Bob” McClish, age 71, of Leonidas died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at his home. He was born in Battle Creek, MI on April 11, 1943 the son of Cecil and Audrey (Bastian) McClish and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1961. Bob worked as a millwright for …

A 22-year-old man has apologized before being sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison for his involvement in the 2013 fatal shooting of a University of Michigan medical student. Shaquille Jones told a court in Ann Arbor on Wednesday that “I wish I could take it back.” Jones in January pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Twenty-five-year-old Paul DeWolf was …

Several Kalamazoo students turned out at a school board meeting to dispute allegations by a man who held a hunger strike to highlight what he believes is a problem with the district’s textbook policies. Six students from Loy Norrix High School went to the podium Thursday to say they weren’t getting an inferior education from the public school district, the …