Contracts were awarded this week to a trio of lawn-maintenance companies for work on city-owned property in Sturgis. Various jobs where lawn work is required on municipal property were awarded to Custom Lawn Care of White Pigeon, Bronson-based Backyard Creations and Rickett’s Lawn Service of White Pigeon. Bids from each of the three varied from $400 to more than $4,100, …

The first of a series of “Generate Sturgis” forums this week resulted in a group of five finalists from a field of 31 presenting valid business ideas for the city. Staged Tuesday at Sturges-Young Auditorium, the event was the result of a recently created, business-advocate group called Generate Sturgis. The top idea, according to a panel of five judges, was …

The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the ECHL, two-time defending North Division Champions, reigning Eastern Conference Champions and National Hockey League affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils and American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, announce the team has elected to play the first two games of next week’s Best-of-Five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on the road. Although the K-Wings …

Alice Mae (Baker) Pfeiffer, age 95, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Jan. 6, 1917, in Blocher, Ind., the seventh of nine children to the late Daniel A. and Nancy E. (Schlemmer) Miller. Alice worked at Bendix in South Bend, Ind., where she met and married Ceacil Baker on …

Sharon M. Stuth, age 65, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Sharon was born Sept. 13, 1946, in Chicago, a daughter of the late John and Helen (Nagowski) Majors. Sharon grew up in Chicago, graduating from Lindblom High School with the class of 1964. On Sept. 13, 1980, she married Elmer Stuth …

Arlene M. Kern, 64, of Porter Township, Cass County, White Pigeon, died unexpectedly Monday, March 26, 2012, at her home. She was born May 16, 1947, in Three Rivers, a daughter of George and Erma (Pagels) Swartz. She had been a resident of Porter Township for more than 40 years. On Dec. 14, 1968, she married Rondell R. Kern Sr. in Three Rivers. …

Loren Robert ‘Skip’ Lane, 74, of Sturgis, went to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday , March 28, 2012, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers, following an extended illness. He was born March 26, 1938, at his parents’ home, a son of Lawrence Frank and Adilla Sarah (Clark) Lane. He resided in the Sturgis and Three Rivers areas most of his life, …

Jim is still very patiently waiting for his new home. On your left is Maizy, on your right is Max. Hi folks, Maizy here, Max and I are both six years old. Something has happened with our people because we ended up here and homeless. We are both good dogs and do deserve to have a good home. We are …

Two Fabius Township residents were assaulted by three men following an incident Tuesday morning. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, a woman knocked on the front door of a residence in the 13000 block of Mohney Lake Road shortly after 7 a.m. and told the resident that her vehicle broke down. When one of the occupants went outside …

A Fabius Township woman was one of two people charged with meth-related offenses late Monday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies went to a residence in the 14000 block of Bullock Road in search of Christon Vallier. Vallier was wanted on three warrants from Kalamazoo County. Vallier and 47-year-old Dawn Baumfeld were charged with maintaining and operating a …