Sturgis City Manager Michael Hughes had good news last week regarding the vandalism to Oak Lawn Cemetery. He said Patten Michigan Monument Company of Sturgis is helping to restore headstones damaged over the weekend of April 2-3. Suspects remain unidentified in the vandalism that damaged more than 30 headstones. The loss was estimated at more than $50,000. Hughes said repairs …

Wava M. Heath, age 91, of Mendon, died Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Medi-Lodge of Portage. She was born in Leonidas on Oct. 18, 1924 the daughter of John and Frances (Etheridge) Purdy and attended country schools. She was married to Harry E. Heath on June 20, 1945 and she has resided in Mendon since 1950. Wava worked at the …

Thomas W. Astling, 53, of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at his home. He was born Sept. 17, 1962, in Sturgis, Mich., the son of Charles Richard and Donna L. (Schieber) Astling and lived all of his life in the Constantine and White Pigeon area. He was last employed at Gray Brothers Manufacturing in White Pigeon. He is …

Here are some important highlights from the MSU Extension field crops team this week. IPM BREAKFASTS This week’s meeting featured MSU agricultural economist Dr. Jim Hilker who talked to us about Grain Marketing Updates. He focused on the main drivers for the recent increases in corn and soybean prices, gave his projections for what the fundamentals are saying about how …

Michal Charity Webb, age 20, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, due to injuries sustained in a pedestrian-automobile accident. She was born March 20, 1996, in LaGrange, Ind. She is the daughter of Leah and Angelo Campos and Landon and Jessie Adams. Michal was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of …

Kalene Sue Smoker, 22, of Colon, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Christian Fellowship Church in Sturgis, with Pastor Stephen Middleton officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at …

Ellamaree Meyer, aged 95, of Three Rivers and formerly of Centreville, went to be with her Lord Jesus on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. She started her life in Grand Rapids on March 7, 1921, the first of seven children born to Clarence E. and Hazel A. (Terrell) Maxim. In 1944, she married Gerald R. Meyer of Grand Rapids; and together …

Burr Decker, 88, a resident of Colon for 86 of his 88 years of life, entered into eternal rest at Gulfside Hospice in Zephyrhills, Fla. Burr’s happiest moments were in the presence of his wife of 66 years, Virginia (French). Burr was a simple, principled man who loved the outdoors and greatly enjoyed golfing with friends both in Colon and …

The Three Rivers golf team saved its best play for the last jamboree of the season. The Cats fired a fine team score of 177, good enough for 6th place, at Dowagiac’s home course, Hampshire CC. The overall scores were as follows: Otsego 155 Plainwell 167 Edwardsburg 174* Sturgis 174* Paw Paw 177* Three Rivers 177* Dowagiac 177* Vicksburg187** Allegan …

The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the murder conviction of Andy Brown in the 2013 shooting death of Sturgis CPA David Locey. The court released a 16-page opinion Wednesday, denying Brown a new trial. Brown is serving a maximum of 75 years in prison for second-degree murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was …