A camper was stolen sometime between Sunday and Monday from a location in Constantine Township. State police said the incident occurred between 9:30 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday in the 10000 block of Quaker Street. The theft was reported at 6 p.m. Monday. Taken was a white, Viking pop-up camper with a Michigan trailer plate. It features a roof-mounted …

An elderly Branch County man was the victim of a fraud inspection that resulted in the theft of his safe. Michigan State Police troopers said the incident occurred mid-morning last week at a residence in the 900 block of South Fremont Road in California Township. The suspects preoccupied the elderly resident by asking to inspect his electric service. It is …

Larry L. Carpenter, age 63, of Bristol, Ind., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday evening, Nov. 6, 2018, at Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. He was born April 8, 1955 in Sturgis, a son of the late Lloyd and Hope (Hedglin) Carpenter. Larry resided most of his life in Sturgis, living the past six years in Bristol. …

Elijah Jawan Hamilton, age 21, passed away on Friday, November 2, 2018 in Three Rivers. He was born on November 15, 1996 in Sturgis, the son of Kevin and Ericka (Wright) Hamilton. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School Class of 2015.  In high school, Elijah participated in basketball, student council, TRAM (Three Rivers Area Mentoring), and was …

I am Jax!  I am a coonhound with something mixed in.  I am a handsome, black and tan two year old.  In case you didn’t pick up from my name, I am a male.  The people who gave me up said I get along with other dogs and am housetrained.  I am a bit on the exuberant side and I …

Deb Providakes, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born March 26, 1959, in Springfield, Mass., a daughter of the late Anthony F. and Barbara (Chaffee) Marino. On Oct. 29, 1977, she married Bill F. Providakes in Springfield. Deb was a florist for more than 40 years and was …

Virgil Leroy Lancaster, age 82, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday morning, Nov. 5, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 12, 1935, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Kenneth B. and Maude A. (Schrader) Lancaster. Virgil’s early life was spent in Burr Oak until entering sixth grade, when the family moved to Mesa, …

Glen Oaks Community College will have to consider its options after a half-mill increase request was defeated Tuesday by a margin of 51 to 49 percent. College officials said security improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades, renovations of classrooms and laboratories, and other capital-improvement projects were planned for the seven-year life of the proposed millage. The half mill would have generated about $970,000 …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging’s request for renewal of three-quarters of a mill was approved by voters, 71 to 29 percent. The request is for a six-year period, and will generate nearly $1.5 million during its first year.

Two incumbents will join Sturgis resident Ken Malone to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners following Tuesday’s vote. A strong voter turnout saw Centreville resident Dennis Allen defeat Judy Nelson of Nottawa Township. Allen, the current board chairman, will be back to represent District 3, which covers Lockport, Nottawa, Florence and Sherman townships. The other incumbent, White Pigeon’s Dan …