Martha Parfet, along with her husband Ted, were a driving force in the Kalamazoo community for many years.  Parfet, 91, passed away at  her home on Gull Lake Monday morning. Parfet was the granddaughter of W.E. Upjohn, founder of the Upjohn Company as well as the granddaughter of James and Carrie Gilmore of the Gilmore Brothers Department Store, which was …

Joseph Leo Thomas Hice, age 29, of Burr Oak, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Burr Oak Township due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born March 23, 1987, in Sturgis, a son of Steven and Jane (Cobb) Hice. Joe resided his whole life in the Sturgis, Burr Oak and Bronson area and was a member …

Since my retirement, I’ve found myself busier than I was when I was punching a timeclock. This is common among many retirees. I’d like to think of myself as a professional volunteer, but that could be looked at as an oxymoron, because professionals get paid for their time, and the only pay a volunteer normally gets is a warm feeling …

Mario Williams, age 58, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at home. He was born November 30, 1958 in Chicago, IL the son of Emmett and Barbara (Harris) Williams. In July of 1986 he married Jeanette Noel who survives. Mario graduated from Marcellus High School in 1977 and then went on to serve in the United States Army …

A vehicle was impounded by Three Rivers Police last week after a department K9 reacted positively to the presence of drugs. The vehicle was stopped following a traffic violation around 10 p.m. Friday at Michigan Avenue and U.S. 131 after it was seen driving through neighborhoods and avoiding police and major routes. Police said the 53-year-old driver acted in a …

A pickup stolen out of Indiana over the weekend was recovered Sunday in St. Joseph County. State police said the 2011 Ford F-250 King Ranch edition was reported stolen around 12:30 a.m. Sunday from the Bristol area. Later in the morning, troopers were alerted to the vehicle submerged in Corey Lake at the public access site in Fabius Township. The …

A 22-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested on a drug-related charge over the weekend. Three Rivers Police said the vehicle was stopped at 8 p.m. Saturday for an equipment violation at Constantine and Lafayette streets. Officers were suspicious of drug activity and the driver denied officers’ request to search the vehicle. Department K9 Django was called to the scene and …

Patricia Jane Van Wormer, 78, of Constantine, died on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers following an extended illness. She was born on March 14, 1938 in Scott, Ind. the daughter of Philip M. and Goldie I. (Balyeat) Gage. Constantine resident since 1995 coming from Goshen, Ind. Employed in Quality Control for Bristol …

Several parents are joining a planned lawsuit against Michigan’s School Reform Office over its threats to close low-performing Kalamazoo schools. Kalamazoo Public Schools and nine parents say the state office lacks the legal authority to determine if schools should close. Superintendent Michael Rice tells the Kalamazoo Gazette he plans to file the lawsuit this week in the Michigan Court of …

Susan Kay Hunt, age 66, of Sturgis, died on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. She was born in Sturgis on May 6, 1950 the daughter of Earl Ivan Hunt and Ethel Marie (Middaugh) Hunt. Susie will be missed by her Gemini Adult Foster Care family where she enjoyed listening to Country Music and wearing the color purple. Susie is survived by …