State Rep. Matt Lori has announced a Michigan Strategic Fund grant that will enable a Sturgis auto-supply company to expand operations and create jobs. Lori said Summit Polymers Inc. will expand its existing operations in Sturgis, Portage and Vicksburg as a result of the $800,000 grant. The company plans to invest $7.3 million into the local economies and create 198 …

Hines, Dr. Wallis G. “Wally” Hines, age 95, died October, 31, 2014 in Kalamazoo. Born in Chicago, Ill. on Feb. 2, 1919, he was the fifth son of Herbert Waldo and Helen (Gartside) Hines. Raised in El Paso, Kankakee and Springfield, IL, he graduated from Springfield High School in 1935. Following two and a half years at the University of …

Jean J. Williams, 83, of Three Rivers, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 at her home. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel of Three Rivers.

Vicksburg 14,  Three Rivers 13 Schoolcraft 42,  Constantine 28 Mendon 49,  Colon 8 Cassopolis 29,  Decatur 28  (OT)

GeorgeW. Emmel, age 82, of Colon, passed away Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, at his home. George was born, July 6, 1932, in Branch County, a son of the late Lewis andMabel (Slagle) Emmel. He had made his home in the Colon area most of his life and had attended Colon schools. George had also served in the U.S. Army from …

Karen S. Green, 66, of Quesnel, British Columbia, and formerly of White Pigeon, Mich., died Oct. 19, 2014, in Quesnel. She was born June 14, 1948, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter of John Thomas and Alice Elizabeth (Codd) Robertson. She attended White Pigeon Schools. For two years, she lived on a dude ranch in Israel on the Sea of Galilee. …

Sophia C. Barczak, 96, of White Pigeon, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, following an extended illness. She was born Dec. 30, 1917, in Jackson, a daughter of Carl and Dominika (Best) Chrapek. On Feb. 22, 1935, she married John A. Barczak in Jackson. He died Aug. 27, 1992. In 1949, Sophia and John moved to Bronson, …

Dan Lee Fryling, age 70, of Mendon, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at his home following a brief illness. He was born in Three Rivers on April 28, 1944 the son of Adrian and Bertha (Visscher) Fryling. Dan attended Mendon High School and was the proprietor of Dan Fryling Construction and Leisure Time Apartments in Mendon. He was a member …

The St. Joseph County Farm Bureau staged its annual meeting last week at Sturges~ Young Auditorium. Several awards were presented and recognition given to a number of people. Taya Bower of Colon and David Miller of White Pigeon were recognized for attending the Michigan Farm Bureau Young People’s Citizenship Seminar. Mariah Schlabach of Sturgis received the St. Joseph County Farm …

ServPro of St. Joseph and Cass counties earlier this month conducted its second annual Smoke Detector giveaway, joining up with the Three Rivers Fire Department as part of the promotion. After handing out 75 detectors at last year’s event, the drive pushed past 350 detectors given out in a two-hour span. The giveaway coincided with Fire Prevention Week. ServPro owner …