Final goodbye for Ron Kienzle, road closures for funeral

Monday marks one week since two bailiffs were shot and killed inside the Berrien County Courthouse. Ronald Kienzle and Joe Zangaro were both killed in the line of duty when a handcuffed inmate grabbed one of their guns and began shooting.

A Celebration of Life for Zangaro was held on Friday. Monday afternoon a funeral for the second officer, Ronald Kienzle, will take place at 1 p.m. inside the Mendel Center on the Lake Michigan College campus. A grave site service will be held after the funeral.

There are several road closures and detours that may impact afternoon commutes.

From 9 a.m. until about 4 p.m., Yore Avenue between Empire Avenue and Napier Avenue will be closed to all traffic.

Crystal Avenue between Empire and Napier will be closed to through traffic between the times of 2-4 p.m. for law enforcement vehicles and others to exit the cemetery. During this time only residential or business traffic will be allowed on Crystal Avenue.

The outside westbound lane of Napier Avenue will be closed between Yore Avenue and Pipestone Road beginning at 1:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The westbound lane will be open for traffic and this will not impact the two eastbound or center turn lanes.

I-94 exit ramps to Napier Avenue, which is exit 30, will be closed as of 1:30 p.m. and will stay closed until about 4 p.m. Those who plan to exit on Napier Avenue will have to exit at the Business Loop 94 (also known as Main Street.) Eastbound drivers will need to exit at Pipestone Road instead of Napier Avenue.

Drivers who plan to travel north on the US-31 bypass headed to eastbound I-94 will need to exit at Sodus Parkway to enter east I-94 at Pipestone Road.