The 54th Mendon Dust-Off Sunday drew more than 800 cars and many more car enthusiasts to Mendon High School. The old-car show, generally acknowledged as the first major event of the season, was considered a success, according to Brian Stutzman, president of the Three Rivers Classic and Antique Restorers Club, which hosts the annual gathering. Stutzman said the supply of …

Larry D. Smith, Jr., age 42, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at Borgess Medical Center after sustaining injuries from a motorcycle accident. He was born in Sturgis on July 16, 1974, a son of Connie Schaeffer and Larry D. Smith. Larry attended Centreville Public Schools with the class of 1993. On July 18, 2009, he married …

Doris D. Hull, 77, of Constantine, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Three Rivers Health. She was born March 19, 1940 in Sturgis, a daughter of Claude and Erna (Koehl) Hawkins. On July 3, 1967 Doris married Harry Hull in Houghton Lake, MI. He preceded her in death on December 13, 2014. Doris worked at Eaton Corp. in …

Merton Henry Austin, age 84 of Mendon, died Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in South Bend, IN on Nov. 13, 1932 the son of Loren and Mildred (Eaton) Austin. He grew up a farm in the Shipshewana area and later served in the U.S. Army. He owned and operated Mert’s Barber Shop …

Dennis Weston Klinger, age 66, of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center.  He was born on July 17, 1960 in Cheboygan, the son of Isador and Evelyn (Briggs) Klinger. Dennis served in the U.S. army until his honorable discharge.  Surviving are brothers, Darrel Klinger of Bronson, MI and Darwin (Jeanette) Klinger of Fulton, MI. In …

Gregory J. Wilson, age 47, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 4, 2017, at his home. A memorial service is being planned for a later date. The family is being assisted by the Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon.

Paul Douglas Abrams, 81, of Shipshewana, died on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at his residence. He was born on Aug. 15, 1935, in Three Rivers, to Ernest and Margaret (Douglas) Abrams. On Aug. 2, 1958, he married Catherine Pierson. She survives. Survivors in addition to his wife are two daughters, Christine (Douglas) Pagels of Sturgis, and Teresa Abrams of Three …

The driver of a car who killed a 46-year-old Sturgis man last week faces open murder and other charges. Police arrested Paul Middling, 36, of Three Rivers, after the car he was driving caused a crash at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of South Centerville Road and South Street in Sturgis. Middling is charged with open murder, driving under the …

An area priest who resigned following investigation into inappropriate use of church funds has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000. Richard Fritz is due back in court later this month, after an arraignment in April in St. Joseph County District Court. Michigan State Police investigated the case and submitted their findings to the Branch County prosecutor in February, requesting …

Glen Oaks Community College staged its 49th commencement ceremony Friday. In all, 112 of the college’s 152 graduates took part in Friday’s ceremony. College officials said the youngest graduate was 18, the oldest 58 and average age of graduates was 24 1/2. Three dual-enrollment students and one Early Middle College student were a part of the ceremony. Glen Oaks President …