Vickie L. Kirkum, age 61, of Coldwater, and formerly of Colon, passed away, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater. Vickie was born June 24, 1952, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Alvin J. and Wava J. (Wallman) Dobberteen. Vickie had lived most of her life in St. Joseph County, attending Colon High School, …

The St. Joseph County United Way raised more than $765,000 during its 2014 campaign, officials from the agency announced Thursday. About 200 people gathered at the Sturgis VFW to find out whether the campaign’s goal of $740,000 would be met. In the end, the final amount raised was $765,983, more than $30,000 over what was raised a year ago. Top …

One person was injured Thursday after a roof collapsed at Omni Source Corporation, at 2160 S. Centerville Road, in Sturgis. Sturgis fire crews responded at the scene and found a 100-by-200-foot section of the main building had collapsed. Two employees were in the building at the time, and both escaped. One suffered minor injuries. Gas and power were shut off …

A 45-year-old Colon Township woman faces a number of drug-related charges after she was arrested this week by members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Sheriff’s deputies said SCAN unit members executed a search warrant Wednesday at a residence in the 60000 block of South Farrand Road in response to suspected manufacture and/or use of methamphetamine. The suspect …

A Sturgis man was charged with arson after he was involved in a dispute with his mother Monday night. Sturgis police said they responded to the Fawn River Apartments in response to a man attempting to gain access into an apartment unit. The caller told police the man was looking for his mother. According to police, the man and his …

A four-star quarterback from Sturgis High School made his college choice official Wednesday. Chance Stewart signed his letter of intent to attend and play for Western Michigan University. Boosted by Stewart’s signing and 27 others Wednesday, the Kalamazoo-based university finished with the 60th-ranked signing class in Division I, the highest ever for a MAC school. Stewart, a three-star athlete who …

Brandon Terris Smith, age 28, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, in Sturgis. He was born Nov. 13, 1985, in LaGrange, Ind., a son of Terry and Brenda (Conley) Smith. Brandon was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 2004. He continued his education at the Universal Technical Institute in …

Discussions regarding a potential sidewalk snow-removal ordinance in Three Rivers began Tuesday, when the Three Rivers City Commission explored the issue. Mayor Tom Lowry said a final proposed ordinance could be several meetings away, but he said hearing that children are walking in the street to and from school because sidewalks are not shoveled by adjacent property owners is alarming. …

Sturgis police were called at noon Tuesday to Oaklawn Park in response to a report of a man in possession of a firearm inside a parked vehicle. The first team of officers to arrive to the city-owned park found that the 28-year-old man had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Lorance Dean Arnold, Sr., age 52 of Cassopolis died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at his daughter’s home in South Bend. He was born in Three Rivers, MI on Sep. 27, 1961 the son of William and Marion (Salisbury) Arnold. Lorance was a welder and handyman and had been employed at Voyager R.V. in Elkhart. He was also a biker who …