Geoff Smith, director of public safety for the city of Sturgis, recently was named the second vice president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. He was sworn in to the post in June during the association’s summer conference. Its executive board is made up of a president, first, second and third vice presidents, and a treasurer. Vice presidents …

The union representing Michigan state park officers says they should be allowed to have guns and bulletproof vests to handle unruly visitors. The Michigan State Employees Association says officers are in an unsafe work environment because of a lack of training and equipment, MLive.com reported . The union has filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Park officers …

Laura Blount, age 56, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 7, 2018. She was born in Cannon, Texas the daughter of Wayne and JoAnne (Matthews) Warren. She is survived by her husband, Paul Andrew Blount; children, Amy Gose, Nathan Carpenter, Nakia Bainbridge, Amanda Parshall and Joshua Blount; son-in-laws, Dennis Gose, Chris Bainbridge and Jason Parshall; grandchildren, Skylar …

Christopher M. Thornton, 56, of Battle Creek, died on Thursday, July 5, 2018, doing what he loved, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Chris was born in Battle Creek. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 1979. Chris went on to start and run his own trucking company and loved to be on the open road. He was a free spirit who, …

Elizabeth Sue Marchand, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday evening, July 5, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a long hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born July 6, 1944, in Greensboro, N.C., a daughter of the late Joseph W. and Lucille E. (Bullyboy) Smith. Sue resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a …

Shirley Mae Boersma (Wagner), age 76, died on Thursday, July 5, 2018.  She was born on March 5, 1942, the youngest of 12, to Thomas and Anna Wagner. She is survived by her husband, Leonard Boersma and their children Scott and Barbi (Wittl) Boersma, Sheri (Boersma) and Andy McGrail, Sandy (Boersma) and Tim Gray, and Steve and Erin (Niewoonder) Boersma. …

John J. Neuenschwander, age 75, of Burr Oak, died Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Berne, Indiana on May 11, 1943 the son of Jonas C. and Lovina (Schwartz) Neuenschwander. He was married to Elizabeth Schwartz in Berne on Dec. 1, 1966. They have lived near Burr Oak since 1996. He was …

A Three Rivers resident died Thursday morning at the scene of a car/pedestrian accident on M-40 near Spatterdock Lake Street in Cass County’s Porter Township. The victim was identified as 76-year-old Shirley Boersma. She was reportedly crossing the highway when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Dale Hoekwater, age 77, of Jenison. Investigators said alcohol was not a factor in …

Michigan State Trooper Erik Gantert was dispatched Thursday at 5:30pm to a two-year-old accidentally locked inside a vehicle for approximately 5 to 10 minutes and was in distress in the 10,000 Block of James Street, Mottville. Trooper Gantert arrived on scene shortly after the initial call. Due to the temperature being approximately 90 degrees, Trooper Gantert quickly broke the driver’s …

More than $738,000 is being spent by the Michigan Department of Transportation for more than 10 miles of M-216 beginning Monday. The new road surface will improve the ride quality and safety, as well as extend the life of the road. There will be single-lane closures under flag control and the estimated end date for construction is Friday, August 24. …