Richard James “Ricky” Paffhausen, age 41, died on Sunday, May 9, 2021. In accordance with family wishes, cremation will be conducted, and services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

People in Michigan who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t need to wear a mask any longer, and people who aren’t vaccinated don’t have to wear one outdoors, officials said Friday, noting that the state’s indoor mask requirement will expire in July. The announcement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state health department came a day after the Centers for …

St. Joseph County commissioners were asked Wednesday to consider the purchase of a video and recording system for animal control officer Greg Musser and his work truck. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman, addressing commissioners during their executive committee meeting, said the $8,900 mobile/video recording system will audio record Musser as well as video record from a dash-mounted camera. The system, Bingaman said, …

The former director of Sturgis Department of Public Safety was sentenced this week from a DUI charge last year. Geoffrey Smith was placed on one year probation and is required to use an alcohol-monitor for 90 days. His arrest for driving under the influence occurred Aug. 15. Smith was sentenced Wednesday via Zoom by Calhoun County District Court Judge Paul Beardslee. …

St. Joseph County commissioners appear in favor of recommending an exception to the hiring freeze, as the sheriff’s department is seeking a typist/clerk. The position became open when Jennifer Meyer was recently promoted to administrative assistant. Its pay is about $57,000 a year, including benefits. The matter was discussed during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. Meanwhile, another exception to the hiring …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has begun vaccinating children ages 12-15 years old with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are taken at our ongoing vaccination clinics in the tri-county area. Appointments can be made at www.bhsj.org/scheduling. Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are also available for individuals 18 years of age and older. All individuals …

State Sen. Kim LaSata welcomed her March is Reading Month literacy challenge winner Aaleyah Tomorrow to the Capitol on Thursday to serve alongside her as junior senator for the day. “It was great to have Aaleyah and her family join me at the Capitol today and to have her serve alongside me as a junior senator,” said LaSata, R-Coloma. “It was an …

Sandra J. Cooper, age 79, of Sturgis,passed away early Wednesday morning, May 12, 2021 at her home. She was born March 26, 1942 in Toledo, daughter of the late Charles A. and Myrtle C. (Branson) Ogren. Sandy resided in Sturgis for the past 25 years coming from Toledo, where she was a graduate of Rogers High School. Most of Sandy’s …

A medical condition may have caused a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Portage man Tuesday in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called around 1:30 p.m. to the 52000 block of Parkville Road, between Michigan Avenue and Marcellus Road. Investigators said a northbound delivery vehicle had gone off the west side of the roadway. It …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to remind the public that Saturday is the city’s annual Cleanup Day/Main Street Washdown. The downtown project can use all the volunteers it can get, organizers said. Volunteers will meet at the DDA office, located at 57 Main St., at 8:30 a.m. and receive their duties for the morning. The chamber asks …