Authorities say a western Michigan toddler has been struck and killed by a truck driven by his grandfather. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office says 17-month-old Brentyn Allen Combs-Easterday could not be revived after being struck Saturday night at his grandparents’ home outside Allegan. Officers say the boy was being supervised by his grandparents while his mother was at work. His …

Clarence Willis “Willy” Birch, age 94 of Leonidas, died on Monday, April 3, 2017 at Medi-Lodge of Portage. He was born in Leonidas on Dec. 20, 1922,  the son of Karl and Ethel (Taylor) Birch and was a lifetime resident of Leonidas. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1941. He served in the U.S. Army Air …

Ivan F. Hamm, age 90, Centreville, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017 at Millers Merry Manor, LaGrange. He was born May 22, 1926 in Custer, MI, a son of Joseph and Mabel (Frantz) Hamm. Ivan graduated from Centreville High School with the class of 1944. In his early years, he farmed and later became a perfectionist carpenter. Ivan managed …

James J. Carlton, age 88, of Paw Paw, formerly of Marcellus, passed away peacefully on  Saturday, April 1, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was born December 19, 1928 in Galesburg, MI the son of Wayne Lyle and Gertrude Floris (Trisket) Carlton. On January 1, 1950 in Three Rivers, he married Anita Ann Davis who survives. James was a loving …

Jerry A. Mitchell, age 55, of Vandalia, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017 in St. Joseph, MI at Lakeland Medical Center who wonderfully served Jerry and his family. He was born January 29, 1962 in Fairbury, IL the son of Ivan (Ike) E. and Fannie C. (Avery) Mitchell. Jerry enjoyed spending time with friends. Surviving is his mother, Fannie Mitchell …

Mendon High School senior Mary Leighton recently was named one the 32 Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athletes. She was honored as a recipient of the MHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete Award at the 2017 boys basketball finals at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing March 25. Leighton, one of only four Class D recipients, will receive a $1,000 …

A handful of students have been taking part in a new type of boot camp since last month. St. Joe Community Co-op has been hosting an Employment Readiness Program at Glen Oaks Community College. Tim Carmichael, associate director of St. Joe Community Co-op, said the non- profit organization was founded in 2006. Its purpose is to teach people with developmental …

My Community Dental Centers has opened its doors in Sturgis. Located at 1525 E. Chicago Road in the Maplecrest Plaza, the dental center opened for business in early March. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce was part of the celebration. Pearline Bailey, regional manager for MCDC, addressed the gathering, thanking the community for its support. MCDC is …

Two local K-9 officers are more protected on the job thanks to a donation from the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K- 9s. White Pigeon K- 9 Zar and Sturgis K-9 Tucky each received body armor, sponsored by Oliver and Rita Miller of Taylor. Vests are embroidered with the sentiment “Protect this K-9 from harm, in memory of Lori Miller.” …

Shortly after my wife and I were married back in 2003, we started thinking about leaving apartment life behind and buying our first house. The decision to take the plunge to purchase a house was very easy. Everything else that goes along with house hunting however, was not as simple. We never had any “knock down, drag out” fights while …