The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a press release, noting that the Centers for Disease Control has declared a health advisory. Increasing reports of severe respiratory infections among young and middle-aged people due to H1N1 infections have resulted in Michigan’s flu activity being upgraded from local to regional. According to Steve Todd, health officer for the local health …

Rose Marie Peterson, age 90, of Sturgis, was called to her Heavenly Home Saturday, January 4th, 2014. Rose was born in Rockford, IL on June 29, 1923, a daughter of Bror and Sigrid (Gustafsson) Challberg. She graduated from Rockford East High School and received her associates degree from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN. On May 3, 1947 she married …

Dorothy Mae Snyder, age 76, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2013 at the Heartland Health Care Center following lengthy illnesses. Dorothy was born Oct. 30, 1937 in Chicago, IL. the daughter of the late Joseph and Harriet (Kubiak) Zieler. On Sept. 9, 1955 Dorothy was united in marriage to Mr. Lloyd Snyder. Dorothy was an avid …

Molly Mary Swan, age 85, of Centreville, MI passed away Tuesday, December 31st, 2013 at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene W. Swan. Cremation has taken place. Interment of Ashes will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers. Arrangements were entrusted to the Eley Funeral Home in Centreville. Online messages may be left at …

Sturgis municipal officials have has declared a city-wide, snow-removal emergency. A  forecast calling for heavy snow and strong winds prompted the declaration, city leaders said. By ordinance, parking is prohibited on all city streets during a snow-removal emergency. Any vehicle parked in violation is subject to being towed at the owner’s expense. The parking prohibition is effective until the snow …

The organizer of the White Pigeon snowman-building event said cold temperatures have forced the cancellation of Sunday’s gathering at Wade Park. Shireen Cline said despite an adequate amount of snowfall, temperatures too cold for snowman-making prompted her to call off Sunday’s gathering. With below-freezing temperatures forecasted in the coming week, Cline said the event is on hold indefinitely. When conditions …

A pair of three-star athletes – one a senior at Sturgis High School and the other a senior at Mendon – have been named St. Joseph County’s male and female prep athletes of the year for 2013. The honor, bestowed by the Sturgis Journal sports department, went to Chance Stewart and Brooke Howard. Stewart, whose high school career has seen …

Colon Community Schools has issued a notice of appreciation to Covenant Church of Colon, which made possible a frozen turkey giveaway last month. The church donated turkeys to every staff and board member, and families of children who attend Colon schools. Pastor Matt Jones said the turkeys were loaded onto school buses and given to children by a church volunteer …

Robert S. Belson, age 94 of Athens, died Wednesday Jan. 1, 2014 at the Birches in Leonidas where he has resided the past six months. He was born near Hastings, MI on Feb. 27, 1919 the only child of Charles A. and Blanche P. (Workman) Belson. Bob graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1938. He was married …

Maudy Arlene Hackett, age 75, of Centreville, Mich., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning Dec. 30, 2013, at the Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville, Mich. She was born Aug. 15, 1938, in Kalamazoo, Mich., daughter of the late Henry and Corneilia Griffioen. Maudy moved to Sturgis in 1976 from Kalamazoo. On Jan. 17, 1969, she married …