Bertha F. Classen, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Monday afternoon, Jan. 29, 2018, at Birch Adult Foster Care in Leonidas. She was born Sept. 28, 1928, in Meade, Kan., a daughter of the late Jacob and Lena (Friesen) Loewen. Mrs. Classen resided in Sturgis since 1971, coming from Walnut Hill, Fla. On July 23, 1948, she married George Classen …

Margaret Elizabeth Fee Adams, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 28, 2018, at her home. She was born Nov. 21, 1932, to Helen Ann (Babbage) Fee and Laurence Francis Fee in Coudersport, Pa. She moved to Buffalo, N.Y., with her family at a young age. Margaret graduated from Fosdick Masden High School in 1950 and enrolled at …

In recent columns, I’ve given a lot of attention to keeping and disposing of important papers and documents. Everyone carries some very important things with them all the time. I’m referring to your driver’s license, health insurance card and, of course, credit cards. These items are usually kept in a wallet or purse, both of which can easily be lost …

A Vandalia woman was injured after her car struck a tree last week in Porter Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded at 11:40 a.m. Thursday to a single-vehicle accident on Robbins Lake Road, near Sears Road. The driver of the vehicle, 82-year-old Margaret Warren, was traveling north when her vehicle ran off the roadway for an undisclosed …

The cost to secure vital records from St. Joseph County has gone up. Effective Jan. 17, the expense to secure a vital record – in most cases a birth, death or marriage certificate – rose from $13 to $15 for the first record, and from $4 to $5 for each additional record. At the recommendation of county administrator Teresa Doehring, …

A matter related to citizen comments at St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meetings was at the center of a reaction expressed by commissioner Dan Czajkowski earlier this month. Constantine resident Rebecca Shank has persistently asked commissioners to restore the “citizen comment” option toward the end of the board’s twice-a-month meetings. The second opportunity was removed from the board’s meeting …

Twelve people have been reappointed to the St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board. During their Jan. 16 meeting, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved one-year terms for judges Jeff Middleton, David Tomlinson, Rob Pattison and Paul Stutesman; Anthony Callaway, representing Day Reporting Center; prosecutor John McDonough; Lisa Martin, from the Michigan Department of Corrections; district …

A Kalamazoo Michigan man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2013 beating death of his elderly neighbor has been sentenced to 15-20 years in prison. The punishment handed down Monday for 45-year-old Todd Maneke followed a plea agreement last month. Alfred Minka was found dead in August 2013 at his Kalamazoo apartment. Maneke was charged three years later. …

Thomas Woodrow Brothers, Sr. passed away peacefully in his sleep at his beloved home on Sand Lake, surrounded by cherished friends and family on Friday, January 26, 2018. He was 74 years old and lived a full and interesting life of adventure and joy with people he loved dearly. Born on January 10, 1944 in Sturgis to Ishmael C. & …

Jerald H. Bultman, age 77, of Dowagiac, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2018. He was born January 26, 1941 in Niles, MI, the son of Henry Herman and Alice Lucille (Weaver) Bultman.  On August 27, 1960 in Mishawaka,   he married Julie M. Shepard who survives. He was a member of the Marcellus V.F.W. Post 4054 and the American Legion.  …