Norma J. Knautz, age 92, became an angel on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Born in Chicago on July 2, 1928, Norma Jeanne Johnson was an only child but was close to many of her cousins. After graduating from Roosevelt High School and spending time at the University of Illinois, she earned the nickname, “Stormy Normie”. It was during this time …

A Sturgis woman was injured after she was involved in a two-vehicle collision last week in Sturgis Township. Sheriff’s deputies were called shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday to the intersection of M-66 and Bogen Road. Investigators said an SUV driven by 53-year-old Nannette Schroeder struck the rear of a truck driven by Daniel Haney, 26, of LaGrange. Authorities said Haney’s …

Last weekend’s Art on the Green at Island Hills Golf Club was postponed due to inclement weather Saturday. Event organizer Shireen Cline said a forecast calling for strong storms warranted the delay. Cline said she had more than a dozen vendors lined up for what would have been the 9th Art on the Green and hopes all will return. A …

May’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one percent from April. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in April to 5.6 percent in May. The rate was 18.8 percent a year earlier, as May 2020 marked …

The Sturgis fireworks presentation originally scheduled to take place over the weekend has been moved to August. Sturgis City Commission members made the decision a few days before what would have been the city’s fireworks display Saturday. What proved to be a correct prediction of extreme weather Saturday prompted municipal officials to postpone the presentation. The fireworks display will now …

Eight cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant, four in Branch County and four in St. Joseph County, have been confirmed to the community health agency. Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, told the board last week there is some tie-in. The four cases in St. Joseph County live in the same household, Burns said, explaining the original …

David Randall Affhalter, age 63, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2021 after six months with cancer. He was born April 7, 1958 in Three Rivers, the son of Roger and Beth (Snyder) Affhalter. After graduating from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1976, David worked at Essex Wire, 10 years at the St. …

Janice Louise Holderead (nee Jones), age 67, passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Beloved wife of Bruce Holderead for 49 years. Loving mother of Chris Holderead. Dear daughter of Betty and the late Paul Jones. Sister of Sally Cotton (James) and Randy Jones (Diane). Grandmother of Delaney, Addison, and Paige. Janice was a much loved middle school teacher at …

Dean Ray Reames, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Edgewood Health & Rehabilitation. Born October 22, 1935 in the house on the family farm of Clarence L. and Ertah (Clark) Reames, Dean was the youngest of four siblings.  He continued to live on that farm his entire life, and made his living raising hogs …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency and Branch District Library have partnered to bring COVID vaccine clinics to patrons using the agency’s mobile clinic. The mobile operation will be available at the Branch District Library’s Quincy site noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, and noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Coldwater branch. In addition, it will partner with the Bronson …