Local residents experienced the tragedy of many unexpected losses of life in 2016, some so significant they would spark change in the schools, courthouses and on the roads.
Despite the heartache of tragedy, communities were brought together as they grieved, but also joined forces to support one another through difficult times.
Among the milestones this year were changes initiated by a number of elected officials who left office after serving for years.
Continuing the countdown are stories four through two:

4. Tragic losses
Autumn Mehl, 29, and Steven Rough, 26, were found dead on Feb. 14 after a car accident, where both plummeted into a creek off the St. Joseph River near the intersection of Bond and Beeson Roads in Niles Township.
Mehl and Rough were reported missing Saturday, after they had last been seen at Jay’s Lounge early Saturday morning, police said.
Police said they believed the vehicle had gone off the road and into the creek on Saturday morning.
Mehl, of Berrien Springs was a mother of five and Rough, of Buchanan was a father to a 2-year-old son.
The deaths prompted the Berrien County Road Commission to install guard rails at the crash site in hopes of preventing future fatalities.
A Niles High School student was hospitalized Nov. 4 after he attempted suicide. Adam Stoops passed away not long after his hospitalization. His mother Jennifer Stoops said that her son had faced issues with bullying and she sought to bring the issue of bullying to the community’s attention. A vigil took place in his honor at the Apple Festival grounds.
Stoops death has caused school officals to take a closer look at the bullying issues in the district.

3. Bailiffs shot
The tragic deaths of Berrien County Bailiffs, Joseph Zangaro, 61, and Ron Kienzle, 63, sparked change to courthouse and officer security across Berrien County.
The incident occurred on July 11 at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph, when handcuffed inmate Larry Gordon, 44, wrestled a gun away from a deputy during a transfer from the jury area in courtroom 315 back to his cell. Gordon shot and killed Zangaro and Kienzle with a gun. Gordon also took eight people hostage before he was shot and killed by police.
Gordon was facing the possibility of life in prison after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female. The young woman was being held up in Gordon’s shed on Tannery Road in Coloma against her will, when police found her on April 20.
In St. Joseph a memorial walk was organized and hundreds flooded the streets to recognize and honor the fallen bailiffs.
In response to the tragedy the city of Buchanan used funds raised from their summer Thrill on the Hill to buy 22 bulletproof vests for Buchanan reserve officers.
In addition, the community helped to raise $52,229 for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department through for the purchase of safety equipment for officers including, plate carrier bulletproof vests, level III security holsters and weapon mounted flashlights.

2. Election
This election saw rises in poll numbers across the nation, as residents sought to vote on a number of contested issues and candidates. At a local level, some big changes were made as a few of the area’s longest serving elected officials stepped down.
Former Mayor Mike McCauslin led the city of Niles for 17 years and decided to retire. Nick Shelton was elected mayor after a hotly contested race against longtime city councilman and Mayor-Pro tem Bob Durm.
According to unofficial votes, Shelton won the election with a total of 2,791 votes. During his campaign, Shelton vowed to help small businesses and make Niles a destination for tourists.
Other public officials, who had served for years also stepped down in 2016, including Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge, who served Cass County since 1982. Dodge will retire at the end of 2016. Starting Jan. 1, Mark Herman will be the new circuit court judge to preside over the county’s felony court cases, which includes trials and sentencing hearings, as well as all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000.
Republican Michael Majerek won the District 12 commissioner seat this November also against Democratic incumbent John Klimek.