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 …

Three Rivers Community Schools has announced that Fred Matusik, principal at Park Elementary School, is retiring at the end of the school year. Matusik, who oversaw Huss Academy alternative high school for 10 years, has been principal at Park School for six years. His wife, Judi, is a behavior specialist at Andrews Elementary and she also plans to retire in …

A 250-pound urn was stolen from a burial site between March 4 and 11 at Leonidas Cemetery. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, the cement urn was painted black, stands about 30 inches high and has a diameter of about 18 inches. The item was reported stolen last Saturday.

The Three Rivers Relay for Life was given a financial boost recently, thanks to Kadant Johnson. The Three Rivers-based company last weekend hosted its second annual Hoops for Hope, 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Seventeen teams combined to raise more than $2,300 for the local Relay for Life program.

Weston Edward Lipko, son of Rachel Dale and Aaron Lipko, was stillborn Thursday March 15, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital. He is survived by his parents; grandparents, Richard Dale of Burr Oak, Tana Fox of Burr Oak, Nancy Lipko and Charlie Osbon, both of Sturgis; great-grandparents, Jenny Hagen and Edward Hagen, both of Sturgis and Rita Lipko and Andrew Lipko of …

The Kalamazoo Wings captured their third straight North Division title in convincing 6-1 victory Wednesday night at the Huntington Center against the Toledo Walleye.  Sparked by two goals 23 seconds apart, the K-Wings jumped ahead to a 2-0 advantage. Fed by a Darryl Bootland pass to the high slot, Elgin Reid (8th) put the K-Wings on the scoreboard 8:23 into …