Michael Melvin “Mike” Wheeler, age 67, of White Pigeon, died Monday, April 23, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a brief illness. He was born June 15, 1944, in Pinehurst, N.C., a son of the late Melvin and Pearl Mae (Smith) Wheeler. His family moved to Centreville when he was young, and Mike graduated from Centreville High School …

Howard E. Harker, 87, of Sturgis, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday evening, April 23, 2012, at his home. He was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Sturgis, a son of the late William Cloyce and Gladys (Krontz) Harker. Howard was a lifelong resident of Sturgis. On Dec. 27, 1945, he married Dorothy Westfall at Sturgis Church of the Nazarene in …

Hazel E. Hicks, 88, of Sturgis, died April 23 at her home, where she had lived with her daughter and son-in-law since 2004. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 N. M-66, Sturgis. A service celebrating the life of Hazel E. Hicks will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at …

Sturgis firefighters were dispatched to the James and Lorene Eldridge residence on South Lakeview Street Tuesday morning. The fire was located in a hidden attic space across the rear of the home. Heavy fire, smoke, and water damage was sustained by the entire home. Firefighters were on scene for five hours.

Alice Suzette “Suzy” Warner, age 85, of Three Rivers, went peacefully to her Lord on Sunday, April 22, 2012, the day of her birth. She was born in Three Rivers, the daughter of Merrill and Florence (Ellet) Warner. Suzy was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. The tapestry of her life vividly illustrates the unselfish service Suzy devoted to her …

She was born Alice Suzette Warner. Professionally, she was A. Suzette Warner, but, to her friends, she was just Suzy. Everyone knew her from her years at Three Rivers Community Schools and, when she finally retired, she was known to be the go-to-person when you needed historical information about the high school or anything to do with the city of …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Gerald Loudenslager announced Monday he will not be seeking re-election after his current term expires at the end of the year. The 67-year-old Loudenslager said with the county commission dropping from seven members to five in 2013, he does not wish to run against Rick Shaffer to represent a newly redrawn district that consolidates portions of …

The St. Joseph County Bar Association has bestowed its annual Liberty Bell Award to Eva Sylvester. The Three Rivers resident has a 45-year history serving as a legal secretary. She has spent 22 of those years working in St. Joseph County Probate Court under Judge Thomas Shumaker. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton announced Sylvester as the recipient of the 28th …

Rob Olsen, who retired last year as superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, has been named to the Michigan Association of School Administrators Hall of Fame. The award recognizes a career of outstanding leadership and dedication. The 63-year-old Olsen, who currently works part time as an administrator for Portage Public Schools, was a unanimous selection by his peers from the region …

An art professor at Glen Oaks Community College has been selected as the recipient of the annual E.J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. Michael Northrop, who joined the Centreville-area college in 2000 and became a full-time faculty member in 2005, was announced the 28th winner of the award. Northrop teaches art history, object drawing, two-dimensional design and several other …