Joseph J. Phillip, age 67, Three Rivers, died Wednesday Jan. 4, 2012, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Jan. 16, 1944, in Chicago, a son of Peter and Lillian (Vieha) Phillip. Joseph was a graduate of Three Rivers High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1963-1967 and in the Naval Reserve from 1967-1969. On …

Mitchell William “Mickey” Gregory Chrapek died Jan. 4, 2012. He was born Dec. 25, 1938 at Mercy Hospital in Jackson, a son of Constantine W. and Lillian Chrapek. He was a brother of Barbara and Bruce Jones, Constance and David Crandall, and Felicia and Michael Nettro; and a special beloved friend of Helena M. Pagels. He was grandson of Mitchell and …

St. Joseph County officials this week signed off on a four-year, $1.2 million agreement involving a partnership with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan Partnership. The agreement, reached Tuesday during the county commission’s first meeting of 2012, involves the seven-member commission, the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation and Southwest Michigan Partnership. As a result, SMP will assign three full-time employees to work …

The city of Sturgis has announced that recycling collection for homes on the north side of U.S. 12 will be today, one day later than usual. Due to the New Year’s holiday, Borden Waste-Away, the city’s recycling contractor, is off a day from its normal schedule. The regular schedule of Thursday pickup will resume starting next week, when curbside recycling …

Slippery roads are blamed for a two-vehicle accident that left a 48-year-old Marcellus woman injured. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Rosemarie Guest was traveling west on Marcellus Highway around 6 a.m. Wednesday when she lost control of her vehicle near Finch Road. Guest drove off the roadway then reentered the road, striking an oncoming vehicle, sheriff deputies said. Guest …

Members of three city boards in Three Rivers will be expected to take training shortly after their appointment, Mayor Tom Lowry and city commissioners decided Tuesday. The training will be required of new members who join the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals. Lowry indicated recommendations made by the three panels are important and …

Herschel Franklin Nichols, of Three Rivers has gone home to Heaven and is celebrating now with his Lord and Savior. Herschel passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at the Bowman House, where he had been a resident for the past two months. Herschel was born on Dec. 20, 1914, in Wellston, Ohio, the son of Thurmond and Martha (Byers) …

Clarence “Pete” D. Jacobs, 69, of Jones, passed away suddenly on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers on Sept. 20, 1942 the son of Clarence E. and Garnette M. (Dukes) Jacobs-McGary. Mr. Jacobs has been a lifelong resident of this area. He was employed by Fisher Body of Kalamazoo, which later became General …

Edgar Allan Wolfe,  age 75, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Wednesday morning January 4, 2012 at his home. He was born July 19, 1936 in Columbia City, Indiana a son of the late F. Lowell and Lavanga (Weeks) Wolfe. Ed returned to Sturgis in 2003 to care for his father.  For over 38 years he lived in California and …

They call me Zip. I am a one and a half year old male Min Pin/Aussie mix. I want you to know that I do not have a tail. I like to go for walks on a leash but I do need some practice with that. I sit and accept treats very gently. I am kind of skinny so some …