Ray Charles “Chuck” Sprowl, 66, of Skandia, passed away at home in the loving care of his wife, Cathy, and Lake Superior Hospice on Friday afternoon, March 2, 2012, following a courageous two-year battle with lung cancer. In lieu of flowers, please send all memorials to Lake Superior Hospice in Chuck’s memory, 914 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. A memorial …

Maggie has a new home! But Bully is still waiting for the perfect place for him. My name is Lexi, I am only nine months old and I am a very good cat. I am litter trained and good with kids. I came in here with my brother but he has been adopted so I would like to move on …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners voted this week to a variety of agriculture-related services offered by the Michigan State University Extension. Following action Tuesday, Dr. Dale Mutch, an agriculture and agribusiness institute extension educator from Michigan State University Extension Office, will join the county. Mutch is a senior extension educator of sustainable agriculture. Meanwhile, approval was given to hire …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is continuing its investigation into illegal dumping of tires in Constantine Township. Investigators were notified by the St. Joseph County Road Commission about a location where a number of tires were discarded alongside a roadway. The sheriff’s department is working with the tire manufacturers to determine the original owners of the tires. Investigators believe …

Richard Lee “Dick” Barnebee, age 84, of Mendon, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Dec. 18, 1927, in Sturgis, a son of William N. and S. Eleanor (Parham) Barnebee. He attended Brighton (Ind.) Schools and graduated from Colon High School in 1948. He worked briefly for Miller’s Standard Station in Leonidas. Dick …

Mrs. Nancy Carol Nusbaum, age 57, of Constantine, passed away Monday, March 5, 2012, in Colon, surrounded by her family, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 10, 1954 in Lawton, Okla., a daughter of Thomas and Evelyn (Clayton) Parr. Nancy had been a lifelong resident of Constantine, where she and her husband Mike raised their three …

Marian E. Rentfrow, 93, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers following an extended illness. She was born Feb. 10, 1919, in Constantine, a daughter of Samuel Clement and Hazel Mae (Rangler) Whitmore. On June 11, 1958, she married Everett E. Rentfrow in Constantine. He died June 5, 2004. She was a …

Betty L. Carvey, 74, of Sturgis, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers following a short illness. She was born Oct. 7, 1937, in Marion, Ind., the daughter of Estle and Lillian (Lyons) Carvey. She was a Sturgis resident for the past 20 years, coming from Three Rivers, and had lived in White Pigeon for several years. …

Dale Bennett Weitting, age 87, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour on March 4, 2012, at Friendship Village Health Center in Kalamazoo and under the care of Great Lakes Caring Hospice. He was born on Jan. 10, 1925, in Leonidas, to Arnold and Gertrude (Bennett) Weitting. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, and sister June …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday approved a special-exception-use permit for Menards. As a result, the Wisconsin-based home-improvement center is clear to break ground on its 215,000-square-foot store on the south side of Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131. City officials said Menards representatives indicated they would like to break ground as soon as possible in …