Gerald “Gary” C. Ford, a resident of Traverse City, died on July 10, 2018 after a valiant battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. His firm belief in God, as well as the love and support from his family and friends, ultimately gave him peace. Gary never reached his goal of receiving a lung transplant and hoped everyone would consider becoming an …

I recently had blood drawn, per a request from my family doctor. I have this done every several months or so, because I’m diabetic, and this helps me keep everything under control. I’ve come to realize that getting needles stuck in you is all part of growing older. As a kid, I dreaded getting shots, but now I don’t mind …

Michigan Department of Transportation workers this week started a chip-seal project on U.S. 12 in the city of Sturgis, and Fawn River and Burr Oak townships. The $570,000 job started Monday and begins at Franks Avenue in Sturgis, working its way east to the Branch County line. MDOT Officials said the new surface will extend the life of the road …

Ethel Salina (Lehman) Slabaugh, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening July 15, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born March 23, 1927, to Joseph and Stella (Sharp) Lehman in Kenmore, N.D. Her father, a minister, was deceased in North Dakota on Oct. 10, 1928. Her mother, Stella moved with her seven children to Fairview in January 1934. Ethel …

Braelynn Hope Clark, age 13 months, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, July 14, 2018, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. She was born June 5, 2017, in Sturgis, a daughter of Jordan Carr and Nathan Clark. She is survived by her mother, Jordan Carr of Sturgis; her father, Nathan Carrr of Sturgis; twin-sister Addelynn Clark and sister Brooklynn Sutton, …

Janet B. Eggleston, age 81, of Three Rivers, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 15, 2018. She was born in Three Rivers on Aug. 5, 1936 the daughter of Bernard and Irene (Coler) Rhodes. Janet was married to David Jay Eggleston on Aug. 22, 1953 in Angola, Indiana. They resided in Texas for ten years where she worked …

Joann Noreen (Wood) Griswold, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, July 13, 2018 surrounded by family at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born Jan. 27, 1937 in Three Rivers, a daughter to the late Joseph and Clara (Baldwin) Wood. Joann graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1955. She then moved to …

Patricia Helen Beezley, age 90, of Three Rivers, formerly of Coloma, MI., passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 15, 2018 surrounded by her family.  She was born January 19th, 1928 in Waterloo, Iowa the daughter of the late Loren and Maude (Knoop) Berry. Pat was active in her early 20’s in the Long Beach CA., Community Players as …

Speed and alcohol are likely factors in a crash that left two Indiana residents dead from a weekend incident in Mottville Township, authorities said. St. Joseph County Sheriff deputies said Richard Spicher, 32 of Middlebury, and Brittany Wolcott, 30, of Shipshewana, were pronounced dead at the scene. The one-vehicle crash occurred around 9 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 131, between Indian …

An Indiana man power-washing the exterior of a southwestern Michigan church has died after coming into contact with an electrical line. The contracted employee was in a bucket lift Saturday afternoon outside St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cassopolis when he was electrocuted. Police say the 65-year-old man was from Bremen, south of South Bend. His name has not been released.  …