David Foster Hecht, Retired Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday Morning, Oct. 19, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. He was born Feb. 3, 1944, in Sturgis, a son of the late Max E. and Audrey E. (Reeg) Hecht. David was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Jean L. Tomlinson, age 87, of Colon, passed away Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Birch Adult Foster Care Home in Leonidas. Jean was born Dec. 19, 1924, a daughter of the late, Harvey and Grace (Hendricks) Walters. Jean graduated from Sturgis High School and continued her education at Olivet College in Olivet. On Sept. 21, 1946, she married Richard Burr …

Gerald Sherman Barr, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Three Rivers Health in Three Rivers. He was born in Sterling, Conn., a son to the late Earl and Ethel (Sherman) Barr. On June 24, 1950, he married Lorraine Theresa Bedard in Danielson, Conn. Gerald had been a resident of Sturgis since 1987, moving here from …

White Pigeon Community Schools’ Board of Education member Christie West was awarded Level One Certification by the Michigan Association of School Boards earlier this month. Level one certification is earned by completing nine Certified Board Member Award classes ranging from school finance and school budget to labor relations and board governance. The nine classes cover a wide range of school …

Six area high school football teams have qualified for the 2012 playoffs. Game days and start times were announced Monday by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Division 4 action will see a 6-3 Three Rivers squad traveling to Battle Creek to take on 8-1 Pennfield High in a 7 p.m. game Friday.  We’ll carry the game live on WRCI …

Thomas Eugene Landrum, born July 19, 1956, went to be with his Lord on Oct. 20, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. Many know Tom as the owner of Lovell Auto Service in Schoolcraft, which his father, John C. Landrum Sr., established in 1978. Tom took over the family business in 1983 and faithfully served the community for 29 …

Chris H. Irelan, age 41, of Hillsboro, Mo., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 21, 2012, at his home. He was born Feb. 2, 1971, in Sturgis. He was a former volunteer firefighter for Goldman Fire Protection District. Surviving are his mother, Betsy Irelan (nee Suits) of Hillsboro; his father, Steven Irelan, of Hillsboro; a brother, Corey (Laura) …

Christmas is only about two months away. It isn’t too hard to find Christmas items in many of the stores already. Thanksgiving is next month, and Halloween is next week. Why can’t we just take one day of celebration, or one holiday, at a time? Things have become so commercialized lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if fireworks don’t go on …

Federal officials expect their investigation into a southwestern Michigan train derailment that injured about a dozen people to take six months to a year.  National Transportation Safety Board railroad investigator Michael Flanigon spoke Monday at a news conference in nearby South Bend.  There are measurements to take, interviews to conduct and electronic data that needs to be analyzed before a …

Carol A. Hyde, 77, of Sturgis, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, at her home. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson. Carol was born on Nov. 18, 1934, in Kalamazoo, to Deo and Rosella (Buell) Stickley. She was a homemaker most of her life and had …