Constantine High School recently received a $12,000 grant from Monsanto Fund’s site-grant initiative. Funds were used to purchase Chromebooks for science education, according to high school principal Travis Walker, who applied for the grant. The Monsanto Fund in 2017 awarded more than $1.4 million to nonprofit organizations through its site-grant initiative to help address essential needs in rural communities. The …

Members of Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency board received flu shots Thursday from agency staff members. Health care staff at areas hospitals are receiving the vaccine, as reports of flu increase, according to Centers for Disease Control. CDC recommends people get vaccinated by the end of October, at the latest. Typically, flu season begins in early October and continue through May. …

State police troopers are investigating a larceny from a motor vehicle parked at a business in Sturgis. The larceny occurred around 5 p.m. Friday outside Tractor Supply Co. Meanwhile, a wallet and other items were reported stolen from a number of cars between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday last week in the 68000 block of Vinewood Avenue in …

A Sturgis real-estate agent recently purchased more than 100 pairs of shoes and boots for local children in need. Stacy Schwenk, a realtor at Re/ Max Elite Group in Sturgis, had raised more than $1,500 to cover the cost of the purchases through a 5K walk/run fundraiser she calls Stacy’s Kicks for Kids. The walk/run took place Aug. 12 at …

This coming season of Kalamazoo Wings hockey will be dedicated to the memory of Ted and Martha Parfet, the team’s original owners. The Parfets, who built Wings Stadium (now known as Wings Event Center) and brought professional hockey to Kalamazoo in 1974, owned the team until 2000. Returning as owners in 2002, the couple owned the team until 2008 when …

Robert Arthur Patterson celebrated his 59th birthday on Monday, Sept. 25, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He passed away Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, surrounded by the ones he laughed with, lived for and loved. Rob was born in Detroit and grew up in Belleville with his mother, Charma Patterson-Denison, and his father, Gary Denison; sisters Laura (William) Dudek-Bies; Lisa …

Jacqualyn J. Bower, age 89, of Burr Oak, passed away early Thursday , Sept. 28, 2017, at the Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri. She was born Jan. 23, 1928, in Coldwater, Mich., daughter of the late John and Blendena (Cummings) Gest. Jackie was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class …

William H. Routsong, age 47, of Greenbrier, Tenn., and formerly of the Sturgis area, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. He was born Dec. 27, 1969, in Madison Heights, Mich., a son to Jerry H. and Gail (Hebel) Routsong. William graduated from Bronson High School with the class of 1988. He then attended Ferris State …

Three Rivers 54, South Haven 0 Edwardsburg 44, Plainwell 20 St Philip Catholic Central 60, Burr Oak 8 Schoolcraft 35 Constantine 8 Hartford 21, White Pigeon 14 Vicksburg 21, Paw Paw 12 Cassopolis 61, Marcellus 8 Mendon 49, Centreville 0 Athens 20, Colon 8

Chester C. Thomason, Sr., age 94, died on Monday,  September 25, 2017. Chester is survived by his sons Chester “Skip” Thomason Jr. and Corey O. Thomason.  Chester owned C&H Electric Contracting Co. of San Deigo, CA and was also a licensed hypnotist. He was a U.S. Navy “tin can sailor” during World War II and was a lifetime member of VFW# 1512, …