David Gay “Butch” Hutchison, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday evening, July 24, 2016, at his home. He was born Aug. 3, 1949, in Ravenna, Ohio, a son of the late Guy Jackson and Zella Mae (Ringley) Hutchison. Butch resided most of his life in Sturgis. He was employed by Kirsch Company in Sturgis for 30 years until …

Mark Allen Hendricks, age 46, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, July 24, 2016, at his home, with his loving wife at his side. He was born Sept. 7, 1969, in Sturgis, a son of the late David Dean and Donna June (Wesse) Hendricks. Mark was a lifelong Sturgis and White Pigeon resident and a graduate of White Pigeon High …

Marcia J. Griffin, age 72, of Colon, died Sunday, July 24, 2016, at Sturgis Hospital. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ann Griffin, and father, John Griffin. She was born Sept. 8, 1943, in Gary, Ind. She graduated from Indiana University and Western Michigan University. She spent her entire career (48 years) as a teacher and administrator in …

Carol L. Berger, age 61, formerly of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2016 in Centreville. Carol was born Sept. 20, 1954, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Robert J. and Burdena (Decker) Berger. She is survived by her sister, Corinne (Frank) Weaver of Granger, Ind. A graveside funeral service and burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, …

Authorities say a 7-year-old boy has died trying to help an 11-year-old friend who struggled while swimming in a lake in western Michigan. The Ottawa County sheriff’s department says a dive team found the boy, identified as Natanael Escobar, in Crockery Lake in Chester Township on Sunday evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the child was …

Two people were arrested last week after the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team found one-pot methamphetamine labs at a residence in Marcellus Township. Cass County deputies said a search warrant was executed Wednesday in the 10000 block of Wolfe Street, where deputies received a tip about the manufacture of methamphetamine on the premises. In addition to discovering five one-pot methamphetamine …

A breaking-and-entering incident last week in Flowerfield Township is being investigated by Michigan State Police. According to a department media release, troopers were called Wednesday to the 53000 block of Bent Road, where forced entry was used to gain access to a residence between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The resident, who arrived on the scene around 3:30 p.m., notified …

Members of the Sturgis Fire Department were dispatched last week to a house fire in the 200 block of North Fourth Street. The blaze was reported at 3:19 p.m. Friday. Firefighters arrived on the scene to discover smoke coming from a two-story residence. Neighbors reported no one was in the home. Fire crews deployed two hose lines and entered the …

An 84-year-old Indiana man is in critical condition after he fell into a Cass County Lake last week. Sheriff’s officials said Paul Schafer, of Bremen, Ind., was in a floating lawn chair shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday on the west side of Diamond Lake. Dispatchers in Cassopolis were asked for assistance in the 61000 block of Lake Street after witnesses …

Dorotha Louise (Dotty Lou) Bent passed away on July 23, 2016 At Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo Michigan. Dotty was born on December 6, 1927 in Point Marion, Pennsylvania to Howard L. Cree and Lillian M (Downey) Cree. She spent most of her childhood in Melvindale, Michigan and graduated from Howell High School in 1945 . She attended Western Michigan …