Harold Richard Hicks, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. Dick was born in Constantine on April 3, 1935 to the late Harry and Hazel (Brenner) Hicks. Shortly after graduation from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served honorably until his discharge in 1958. Dick was known for his sense of humor and ability to …

Betty C. Stader, age 98, of Centreville, MI, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at Heartland Nursing Home in Three Rivers. Betty was born in Indianapolis, July 31, 1918, a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Doerband) Webb. She graduated from Indianapolis Tech in 1936 and received her Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Arts from the …

The Michigan Supreme Court last week denied the final appeal of Andy Brown in the David Locey murder case. Brown was found guilty of second-degree murder in the October 2013 shooting death of Locey. Brown in August 2014 was sentenced to as many as 75 years in prison. Locey, a Sturgis CPA who had employed Brown, found evidence of embezzlement …

A 37-year-old teacher at Sturgis High School is on paid administrative leave pending a police investigation into allegations of criminal sexual conduct. The teacher was arrested Monday after a police investigation showed he allegedly had a sexual relationship with a student. A day later, St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough charged the suspect with one count of distributing or promoting …

A 42-year-old Cassopolis man was injured after he was struck by a bullet from a gun fired by a neighbor conducting target practice. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted shortly after noon Monday that a Milton Township man had been accidentally shot. The victim, Justin Anderson, suffered a non-life-threatening injury. It was determined that a 46-year-old neighbor …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved two annual appropriations Tuesday. Commissioners allocated nearly $290,000, an amount it had budgeted, to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency to finance a portion of the agency’s annual operations. Financial transfers will be administered quarterly. The motion also squared the annual $1-a-year rent the agency pays to the county for …

Susan A. Baughman, age 59, formerly of Three Rivers, died Sunday, January 15, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born in Three Rivers on September 14, 1957 the daughter of late Richard and Barbara (Curtis). She attended Three Rivers High School. She resided in Cassopolis for the past year, where she also was the manager at the K-B Village …

Richard L. (Dick) Rogers, 76, of White Pigeon, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at his home. There will be no visitation. Graveside services and burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Bedford Cemetery in Bedford. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

Betty Elaine Milliman, 86, of Burr Oak, passed away, with her daughters at her side, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers, following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 5, 1930, in California Township, a daughter of Francis Russell and Alice S. (Kelso) Brunner. She was a Burr Oak resident most of her life. She …

Jack L. Kreitzer, 81, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at his home, where he had been in ill health since December. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with burial of cremains in Constantine Cemetery. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.