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 …

Martha Ellen Fitch, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away early Friday morning, January 10, 2014 at the Bowman House in Three Rivers. Martha was born on January 7, 1925, the daughter of the late John Daniel and Nellie Ann (Mader) Luther. Mrs. Fitch has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She married the love of her life, …

Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Tom Langdon is one of five finalists for the top administrative post at Jackson Public Schools. Langdon, 49, was interviewed for the position this week. He came to Sturgis in 2011 after serving several years as an administrator and superintendent for Big Rapids Public Schools. Langdon, whose current salary is $125,000, is vying for the position …

A citizen’s tip led to the arrest of three people on drug-related charges Thursday in Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant for methamphetamine production in the 400 block of 4th Avenue. SCAN members discovered evidence of methamphetamine production and use. Arrested were a 63-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. They …

A Mendon man suffered minor injuries after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident Wednesday morning on M-60 in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Richard Hartzell, 73, was driving east on the state road when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch of roadway and his vehicle rolled into a ditch. The incident …