Michigan’s minimum wage will rise to $9.25 an hour starting January 1st. That’s a 35-cent raise from the current minimum of $8.90 per hour. It’s the final definitive increase provided by a 2014 law, the state said Friday. Beginning in 2019, however, the minimum wage is due to increase annually with inflation unless the unemployment rate is high. Employers can …

Joanne Morton Sisson, age 92, of Kalamazoo, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Joanne was born on Nov. 15, 1925 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of the late Owen P. and Wilma (Bosker) Morton. She spent her childhood, high school, and college years in Kalamazoo. She attended Western Michigan University where she studied History of Art, …

Dr. Joseph P. Tironi, who practiced dentistry in Three Rivers, and provided dental services to the poor in Guatemala and St. Lucia, died on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 in Holland, Michigan, at the age of 87. Joe was born in 1930 in Raton, New Mexico. His father, Pasquale, worked as a miner and bricklayer. His mother, Carolina (Rubini), was a …

Larry Eugene Frohriep, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at his home. He was born Oct. 23, 1948, in Sturgis, a son of the late Harold and Frances (Persing) Frohriep. Larry was a lifelong Sturgis resident. He had been employed by Harris Kayot in Burr Oak and also had worked at Forest River RV in Middlebury …

Marco Alen Hunt, 49, of Three Rivers, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 after a lengthy illness. Marco was born on Sept. 30, 1968 the son of LaDoris Hunt and Willie McCloud. Marco attended Three Rivers Public Schools from K-12 after taking other classes in Biology and Chemistry with the class of 1987. While …

Mark E. Riley, 42, of Columbia, Tennessee, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017. Mark was born Jan. 11, 1975, in Kalamazoo and was a graduate of Centreville High School. He was a Master Mason with the Three Rivers’ Mount Herman Lodge no. 24 since 1997. He worked as a welder for Columbia Gate and recently started at the General …

The death of a Sturgis man has been ruled homicide, according to St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough. Larry Eugene Frohriep, 69, of Sturgis, was found dead early Wednesday at his home at 27810 Maystead Road in Sherman Township. Frohriep’s body was found by a friend around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and the St. Joseph County Major Crimes Task Force was …

Romaine Elaine Berry-Nelson passed away Nov. 13, 2017, at her home, of natural causes. Romaine was a daughter of Roger Leroy Berry and Jill Dian (Grossman) Berry. She was born in Sturgis and was a lifelong resident. Romaine graduated from Centreville High School, as well as Glen Oaks Community College. She was employed by Abbott Labs for more than 20 years. Nicknamed …

John W. Grant, 75, of Constantine, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Constantine on March 7, 1942, a son of George and Myrtle (Eshelman) Grant. On February 20, 1964, he married Judy Carter in Centreville. She preceded him in death on July 21, 2014. John previously worked for Denton Mills in …

Well, they are calling me Thumper because of the way I beat my tail when I sit.  I also have an unusual talking bark.  I am about one and a half years old.  I am black and white, a terrier mix.  I am a male and need my neuter surgery.  The ladies here say that I love everybody.  I am …