Police in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana are looking for a man who is accused of setting a fire at the Walmart store in Niles and then stealing electronics. The suspect allegedly set the fire in the clothing department just before 5 a.m. on Sunday. After it was burning, he then smashed a display case in the electronics department and …

An undetermined amount of old coins was taken during the burglary of a business over the weekend in downtown Schoolcraft. Police Chief Bryan Campbell said officers responded to an alarm in the 200 block of North Grand Street at 3:47 am Saturday. Officers found that someone had gained entry into Norma’s Antiques. The suspect fled the building moments before police …

A Sturgis-area native will be honored by Sturgis Exchange Club when it conducts its 71st annual Book of Golden Deeds award ceremony Thursday at Sturges-Young Auditorium. Elsa Thomasma, 23, was selected for the award in recognition of her volunteer efforts in raising funds and building what is known as “Project Ark” in Cangumbang, Philippines. The community center was used as …

Mabel Geiger passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 in Harlingen, Texas. Mabel was the youngest child of Elmer Hoffman and the former Grace Whitman. She was born Nov. 17, 1917 and spent her early years in Watsontown, Pa. She married Franklin Geiger in 1948 and moved to Three Rivers. There they settled and raised a family. Mrs. Geiger …

Vera K. McCormick, age 75, of Sturgis, died Jan. 8, 2014, after an extended illness. She was born Aug. 28, 1938, a daughter of Thomas A. and Mary E. (Hanchier) Gardner. Vera was a home health aide for Visiting Nurse Association and retired in 1998. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family get-togethers and pot-luck suppers. Survivors include …

A 51-year-old Sturgis woman died in a house fire Friday night. Sturgis Police identified the victim as Lori Miller, who resided at 1107 Merryview Drive. Officials responded to the blaze around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Investigators said the house was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival. Her husband and mother managed to escape the residence, but they told fire personnel …

Snowy owls are out in force in Michigan this winter, thanks to a population boom in their Arctic breeding lands. The Lansing State Journal says area birdwatchers have been sighting the 2-foot-tall raptors. Snowy owl sightings have taken place at Capital Region International Airport in Clinton County’s DeWitt Township, Ingham County’s Alaiedon Township north of Mason and at Gerald R. …

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has declared an emergency because of a temporary shortage of heating oil and propane caused by increased demand in recent subzero weather. Snyder said Friday the shortage also is due to heavy snowfall that delayed delivery of heating oil and propane. The governor’s executive order suspends regulations to allow fuel trucks to be on the road …

Esther Ann Hover, of Spring Arbor, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. A gathering of family and friends will be held prior to the service beginning at noon at the funeral home. Interment of ashes will be …

Laura Lee Krontz, age 75, of Burr Oak, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 10, 2013, at Three Rivers Health. She was born May 6, 1938, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Lloyd and Irene (Schrader) Leatherbery. Laura resided in Burr Oak nearly her entire life. On May 22, 1954, she married Harold “Pat” Krontz in Centreville. Laura was …