State Police say while Michigan traffic crashes and injuries were down in 2012, fatalities increased 5 percent over 2011 from 889 to 936. According to the department’s Criminal Justice Information Center, the number of traffic crashes fell 4 percent to 273,891 from 284,049 in 2011. Injuries were down 2 percent to 70,519 from 71,796 in 2011. Motorcyclist fatalities were up …

Michigan had a tenth-of-a-percent gain in population from July 2011 to July 2012, according to U.S. Census data. Estimated figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Michigan will gain 6,559 new residents since July last year, pushing its population to more than 9.8 million. It would be Michigan’s first net increase since 2004. Locally, St. Joseph County is on …

The Sister City Committee has confirmed the dates of Sturgis’ next trip to Wiesloch, Germany. The group will leave Aug. 22 and fly direct from Detroit to Wiesloch, arriving on Aug. 23. Travelers will stay with their host family for four days and the group leaves for home Aug. 27. However, the committee has arranged for an extended trip to …

Various tools, a 50-inch flat screen television, and a computer and accessories were reported taken earlier this month from a residence in White Pigeon Township. Michigan State Police investigators said the incident likely occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. March 4 at a residence on Dickinson Road. Details about access to the residence were not indicated in a department …

Charles D. (Chuck) Anable, age 75, of Centreville, went to be with the Lord Sunday, March 17th, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born in Three Rivers, on October 1, 1937, a son of Clayton and Leona (Harden) Anable. Chuck graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1956. On April 20, 1958 Chuck married Karen …

Our incredible mother, Dorothy Ann Persing, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, March 18, 2013, in the loving care of the “best in the world” caregivers at Gull Arbor Senior Living in Richland. She was born Oct. 12, 1924, a great-grandchild of Judge John Sturgis in Sturgis. She was a daughter of the late Heber Sturgis and Daisy …

Callie Olean Hill, age 78, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, March 16, 2013, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. She was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Sampson, Ala., daughter of the late Dock and Flora (Renfro) Dannelley. Olean resided in Burr Oak for the past 60 years. Her early life was lived …

James Alven Summey, age 74, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly early Saturday morning, March 16, 2013, at his home. He was born March 18, 1938, in Sturgis, Mich., son of the late Anthony and Frances (Warble) Summey. Jim resided his entire life in Sturgis with the exception of a short time he lived in LaGrange, Ind., and he was …

Deloss “De” Hardesty, age 93, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village. The family will receive friends and relatives from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at the Hackman Family Funeral Home, Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd, Sturgis, MI 49091. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, …

Officials from the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation unit have determined faulty kitchen appliances were the cause of a March 8 fire that destroyed two businesses in downtown Colon. Sgt. Scott LeRoy said the investigation traced appliances in the rear of Curly’s bar as the source of the fire, which destroyed the business and an adjacent real estate office to …