Nellie F. Middlestadt, age 71, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, January 15, 2018. She was born September 10, 1946 in Osceola, AR, the daughter of Louis and Sula Mae (Burfield) Allred.  On March 19, 1966 she married David Middlestadt who preceded her in death. Nellie worked as a nurses aid for 27 years at the former Bronson Lakeview Nursing Home …

We are now half way through the first month of 2018. I’ve been lucky so far and have written “2018” on all the checks I’ve written. Usually it takes me a whole month to get used to writing the correct year when dating something. Perhaps I’ve taken my own advice and slowed down a little when doing certain things. When …

State police investigators are looking into the discovery of a methamphetamine lab over the weekend in Mendon Township. According to a department media release, troopers were made aware of the lab Saturday afternoon after it was discovered by children playing in the area of Wakeman and River Run roads. The children took home what they thought was suspicious trash and …

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Volinia Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to Marcellus Highway, where a pickup driven by 56-year-old Carl Shelby Jr., 56, was heading east when it was struck by a westbound car that had lost control on an icy patch of …

Theodore C. Eckert, age 74, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at his home. He was born Aug. 1, 1943, in Sturgis, a son of the late Carl and Lenora (Holtz) Eckert. Ted was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1961. On Nov. 8, 1968, he …

Helen L. Stewart, age 95, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. Helen was born May 24, 1922, in Oil Hill, Kan., a daughter of the late Leroy and Vivian (Troxel) Sprowl. Helen had lived in Colon, where she had worked at Colmer Company, and for the past 20 years had lived in Sturgis. On March …

Rolland J. (Rod) Mead, 64, of Florence Township, Constantine, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at his home. He was born Aug. 5, 1953, a son of John and Caroline (Hafer) Strait. He had been a Constantine-area resident for the past 34 years. He was employed as an auto mechanic, welder and fabricator for Med Tech, a licensed firearms dealer and …

Edward W. Marsh, age 71, of Jones, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2018. He was born May 18, 1946 the son of Edward and Helen (Griffin) Marsh. He attended Jones and Three Rivers Schools and lived most of his life in the Jones area.  Edward served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star, Combat Infantry …

Darren J. Gearhart passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018 unexpectedly with his father by his side.  He was born on September 04, 1984 in Kalmazoo, the son of David R. Gearhart Jr and Veronica L. Etter (deceased) . He was a resident of Marcellus for many years of his life. Darren loved the outdoors.  He was an avid fisherman and …

Some clarity was added Friday to the intricate legal issue surrounding a plan to develop a multi-field sports complex in Three Rivers. Acting in the capacity of circuit court judge, St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton denied Lockport Township’s motion to stay the state boundary commission’s ruling. Friday’s action comes after Middleton in September ordered a stay related …