LeRoy A. “Smiley” Johnson, 78, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 10:55 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 at his home. He was born on June 5, 1938 in Constantine to the late William T. and Dora L. (Norton) Johnson Sr. On Dec. 31, 1958 in Franklin, Ky., he was united in marriage to the former Mary Carpenter. Smiley is …

Michigan is waiving more public schools from a decade-old law requirement to open after Labor Day — a nod to increasingly popular year-round schooling, the addition of more mandated class days and other factors. In 2006, the first year in which August start dates were legally off limits, the state Department of Education issued nine waivers. More than 10 times …

Mr. Phillip C. Dobyns, age 62, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016 after a courageous and hard fought battle with cancer.  Phil was born on April 12, 1954 in Kalamazoo, the son of the late Robert D. and Elva E. (McLean) Dobyns. After many travels of life Phil then shared them with his wife, family and …

Harley C. Saidla, age 76, of Marcellus, passed away at home Friday, August 26, 2016 with his family by his side. He was born May 10, 1940 in Kalamazoo, MI the son of Donald E. and Ruth (Sternberg) Saidla. On November 22, 1985 in Wakelee, MI he married Janice Kleinfelder who survives. Harley graduated from Marcellus High School in 1959 …

Kalan Jo Rider, age 24, of White Pigeon passed away tragically on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. She was born on August 29, 1991 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Jeffrey and Kathy (Kraus) Rider. Kalan was a graduate of Constantine High School class of 2010 and attended M.C.I.T. College in 2012. She was most recently employed at …

Two firearms were stolen from a Colon Township residence this week. State police were called to a breaking-and-entering of a residence in the 58000 block of Lepley Road around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. The victim said a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle and a 12-gauge “stagecoach” style double-barrel shotgun were taken. A department media release did not indicate how access to the residence …

A Cooper Township man pled guilty last week in Kalamazoo County District Court to poaching-related charges. According to a media release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 29-year-old Craig Laws was originally charged with seven misdemeanor counts. Under a plea agreement, however, Laws pled guilty to possessing a deer while ineligible to secure a license; possessing a deer without …

Vicksburg residents are one step closer to enjoying a new nature trailhead in their neighborhood with help from a Blight Elimination Program grant awarded by the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority. The $33,000 grant will be used to demolish an old car wash on the future site of the Vicksburg Nature Trailhead. The proposed trailhead will be a municipal-owned …

Plainwell 49,  Three Rivers 20

Two Kalamazoo officers have been suspended for one day following the accidental death of a 57-year-old man in police custody. Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley says in a release Wednesday that the officers should have recognized James Dunigan’s medical condition and sought treatment. Medical examiners have determined that Dunigan’s May 6 death was caused by medical issues which included heart …