Forrest Richard Bower, age 91, formerly of Sturgis and Mendon, died on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. He was born in Nottawa on March 30, 1926 the son of Kearold G. and May S. (Eshleman) Bower. Forrest was employed by the Kirsch Company in Sturgis for over 30 years. He was an animal lover, …

KALAMAZOO, MI -Entering Wednesday nights game against the Wheeling Nailers (28-22-5-0), the Kalamazoo Wings (27-21-3-2) were riding a five-game losing streak. It looked as if the K-Wings would be extending that streak to six games as the Nailers led the home team by a score of 5-2 with just over twelve minutes remaining in the game. That was all the …

One of the farmers behind a concentrated animal-feeding operation going up in Sherman Township fielded a number of questions and provided clarity related to the project during Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Conservation District Board meeting. At the request of board member John Nelson, Ed Schlabach attended the meeting and elaborated on what will be a four-barn development between Shimmel and …

A Coldwater man was arrested this week on charges related to criminal sexual conduct and manufacturing child sexually abusive material. State police investigators at 1 p.m. Wednesday executed a search warrant at a Harrison Street residence in Coldwater to investigate allegations of a criminal sexual conduct that had been alleged online via the phone application, KIK. Troopers found that a …

A Sturgis-area woman and her passengers escaped from the vehicle she was driving after it ended up in a water-filled ditch this week in Burr Oak Township. Sheriff’s officials said 34-year-old Michele Wall was driving east on Hackman Road at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday. Wall’s vehicle entered standing water in the roadway and she lost control of the vehicle. It went …

Colin James Currier, age 24, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born July 8, 1993, in Sturgis, a son of Dennis and Kathy Currier and Erica (Draper) Witte. Colin was a resident of Burr Oak all his life and graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 2012. He was …

Despite a pair of dissenting votes, St. Joseph County commissioners on Tuesday approved a staffing request for an impending vacancy in Family Court. The 3-2 vote means Judge David Tomlinson and director Tom Robertson can begin searching for a candidate to replace Cathy Coleman, juvenile register. Coleman’s last day is Feb. 28, as she accepted the county’s early-retirement incentive. Commissioner …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued a media release regarding the number of water-covered roadways throughout the county. Sheriff’s officials said 12 inches of water is enough to sweep away a sport-utility vehicle. The county road commission has placed barricades at affected locations. The sheriff’s department advises motorists to obey the barricades and find an alternate route. Also, …

Eugene LeRoy Proctor, age 78, of Elkhart, passed to his rest Feb. 16, 2018, at Elkhart General Hospital, after a brief illness. He was born March 28, 1939, in St. Joseph County, Mich., a son of Roy William and Lucille (Coon) Proctor. He had lived in the Michiana area all his life. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961- …

David Michael Burr Jr., age 72, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, February 10th, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born September 18th, 1945 in Vicksburg, son of the late David M. Burr Sr. and Eleanor Weinberg. After graduation from Vicksburg High School in 1964 David went to serve his country honorably in the Marine Corp …