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 …

Vivian E. Johnson, 96, passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2017, at Country Living Adult Foster Care in Portland, MI. She was born February 21, 1920 in Lockport Township, daughter of Joseph and Nellie (Morrison) Dunworth. Vivian graduated from Centreville High School in 1938. On October 6, 1940 she married Charles Johnson at Centreville United Methodist Church. He preceded her …

Betty L. Wagner Age 81, Three Rivers, died on Monday, February 20, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Betty was born October 8, 1935 in Three Rivers a daughter of Robert and Lucille (Bohm) Flack. She attended Three Rivers and Constantine Schools. She was married to Frank Osborn for 22 years. He passed away February 27, 2014. On August …

It was rise and shine time for the Kalamazoo Wings (24-24-1-3) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (26-23-4-0) on Monday morning as the two teams faced-off for the K-Wings second and final Education Day game of the season. Game time was 10:30 am. Coming off back to back weekend losses, the K-Wings looked to right the ship with a victory against the …

A storage garage and motorhomes were destroyed by fire late last week at a facility in Schoolcraft Township. According to Tracy McMillan, chief of the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority, the department was called at 10 p.m. Thursday to the 15000 block of U.S. 131, where a fire was reported at Cloverleaf RV & Storage Acres. McMillan said heavy smoke …

No new information is available regarding a fatal motorcycle accident last week in Burr Oak Township St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies are continuing their investigation into Thursday’s incident involving 29-year-old Joseph Hice, who lost control of his motorcycle shortly after 11 p.m. at Witt Lake and Robinson roads. Hice was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies said an initial …

St. Joseph County Commissioners this week are expected to approve a letter of support for a grant to be submitted by the county’s conservation district. During last week’s Executive Committee meeting, commissioners fielded a request from conservation district director Carolyn Grace. She sought and ultimately received the backing of county commissioners for a tally of road crossings she and her …

About 80 residents gathered Thursday at Free Church Park in Sturgis to participate in “A Day Without Immigrants,” a nationwide demonstration to draw attention to contributions of immigrants to business and culture. The local demonstration was part of a movement that occurred throughout the U.S., in which immigrants were urged to stay home from work or school, close their businesses …