Joan was loving, caring and always put other’s needs before her own. Joan (Walsh) Mroczek was born February 6, 1933 and took her last breath peacefully at home on November 22, 2017, just 2 days after Walter, her husband of 61 years passed away. Joan was born in Chicago where she later graduated college and became a school teacher.  While …

Nottawa Community School has been nominated by the Michigan Department of Education to apply for 2017 Title I “Distinguished School” status. Title I is a federal program providing funding to local school districts to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. The National Title I Association gives the distinguished status to Title I funded schools that demonstrate strengths, including team …

Minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident last week in Mottville Township. Sheriff’s deputies said a car driven by 28-year-old Justin Papesh of Dowagiac was heading north on U.S. 131 at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, when it crossed the centerline, according to authorities. His vehicle struck a southbound car driven by Elias Faraeas, 36, of Sturgis. The head-on crash occurred …

Sturgis city commissioners have reappointed Robert Hile mayor and Jon Good vice- mayor at a recent organizational meeting. Hile, who has served on the commission for 6 1/ 2 years, was named mayor last year after serving five years as vice-mayor. Following a unanimous vote, Hile expressed his gratitude to the board. He is an agent for Ayres Insurance. Meanwhile, Good …

Four reappointments to the St. Joseph County Planning Commission were made by the county commission last week. Returning to the planning commission to serve three-year terms are Gregg Dohm of Sturgis, Three Rivers-area residents Robert Horton and Rick Shaffer, and county commission board representative Kathy Pangle, a Mendon resident. Their terms begin Jan. 1.

Carroll R. Fisher, age 72, of rural Centreville, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Bono, Arkansas on Oct. 18, 1945 the son of Joe Bob and Ellen (Webb) Fisher. He was married to Sharon Carter on July 31, 1966 in Martinsville, Indiana and they have resided in Michigan since 1969. …

Gene Shepherd, age 68, of Mendon, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon. Cremation will follow. A graveside Service and burial of ashes will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Mendon Cemetery.

Vaccine waiver rates for school-age children have increased slightly in Michigan. The Detroit News reports that Department of Health and Human Services data shows 3.2 percent of kindergartners and seventh-graders received immunization waivers in 2016 compared to 3.1 percent the year before. The immunization rate was 4.8 percent in 2014. Since 2015, the state has required parents to attend educational …

An Indiana man who thought he’d never see his dog again after it vanished in September has been reunited with the pooch, which was 200 miles away in central Michigan. Gene Valdez of Elkhart, spent two months periodically checking a local animal shelter for his Brittney Spaniel, Rock. But then his nephew contacted the Cass County Humane Society, located about …

A Kalamazoo fountain that features a European settler with a weapon in his hand towering over a Native American has been vandalized with what appeared to be red paint. The substance was poured onto the settler and something resembling a hatchet was thrust into the top of the Fountain of the Pioneers in Kalamazoo’s Bronson Park. City workers discovered the …