The longest-serving commissioner in St. Joseph County history has announced he will not seek re-election to an 11th, two-year term. John Dobberteen, who represents the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, said he will end his 20-year board membership when his current term expires Dec. 31. Dobberteen said he is focused on retiring from work and spending more time …

As a result of the low number of positive influenza cases throughout the area, Sturgis Hospital has lifted the flu-related hospital visitor restrictions. Sturgis Hospital implemented the visitor restrictions in January to protect patients, visitors and staff members from potential exposure to the flu virus. Hospital officials said they continue to request that visitors who are ill to not visit, …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education has chosen six candidates to interview for the position of superintendent. During a special meeting last week, consultant Gary Rider presented 17 applicants to the board and facilitated the process to narrow the field to those the board ultimately selected to interview. Interviews are open to the public. The first three will take place today: …

After dropping the first two games of the weekend, the Kalamazoo Wings (29-25-4-2) ended the weekend on a high note by defeating the Fort Wayne Komets (41-16-2-1) 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. On Friday, the Komets defeated the K-Wings 6-2 at Wings Event Center.  The Komets took a 3-2 lead into the third period before putting the game away with three …

William R. (Bill) Carter, age 77, of Colon, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018, at his home after a short illness. Bill was born May 31, 1940, in Ann Arbor, a son to late Charles and Vivian (Walker) Carter. Bill grew up in the Plymouth area graduating from Plymouth High School with the Class of 1958. He later lived in …

Deborah Lynn Eckert, age 63, of Sturgis, died Friday, March 9, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Sturgis on July 2, 1954 the daughter of Lyle J. and Wava E. (Crotser) Eckert. Debbie attended the Pathfinder Center in Centreville and later worked at ARCH Workshop in Sturgis. She attended the Sturgis Church of the Nazarene. …

Neva Sue Hicks, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away early Saturday morning, March 10, 2018, at her home. She was born May 5, 1940, in Bracken County, Ky., daughter of the late David and Garnett (Jackson) Bell. Neva resided in Sturgis for several years returning from Tennessee four years ago. On Aug. 25, 1962, she married Charles Hicks in Milford, …

Alvin L. Troyer, age 75 years, 2 months, and 9 days, died Saturday, March 10, 2018 at his home. He was born in Hartville, Ohio, on Jan. 1, 1943, the son of Levi B. and Magdalena (Schlabach) Troyer. He was married to Elma Bontrager on Oct. 28, 1965, and they have lived in holy matrimony for 52 years. To this …

Diana “Winkey” Jean Raifsnider, age 71, of Three Rivers, died on Friday, March 9, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born on July 15, 1946 in Gary, IN, to Margurite Smith. She was raised by her grandparents, Gilbert and Jessy Smith, in Howardsville, MI. Diana graduated from Three Rivers High School. She married Orville Anglemyer, Jr., who preceded her …

Emmy Ellen Knavel, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, March 9, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born May 4, 1935, in Detroit, Mich., daughter of the late Fred Leroy and Emma (Koehl) Wheeler. Emmy resided in Sturgis since 1946, coming from Detroit. On July 28, 1972, she married Harvey Knavel in Sturgis. Emmy retired …