For the first time since the middle of 2011, St. Joseph County’s monthly unemployment rate saw an increase from the previous month. The county’s December unemployment rate was 9.2 percent, a nine-tenths of a percent increase from November’s 8.3 percent. Data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows the 9.2 percent figure was still a …

Village officials in Colon have indicated there will not be a Winter Festival this year. After an inaugural winter celebration took place in 2010, the one-day, end-of-January festival did not return for a follow-up in 2011 due to lack of volunteers, according to village president Tom Whitford. The idea of trying it again for 2012 was mulled last fall, but …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety is cautioning residents to not leave keys in vehicles parked outside overnight, as the thefts of three vehicles were reported Friday. Between 4:30 and 8:30 a.m. Friday, vehicles left unlocked with keys in the ignition were stolen from outside residences in the 400 block of East South Street, the 400 block of Williams Street …

A 26-year-old Constantine woman was charged with a list of offenses following an incident at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday last week in the town of LaGrange, Ind. An officer responding to a call of a disturbance at a residence in the 500 block of East Michigan Street was allegedly struck in the face while trying to arrest Rachael Gieber, a Constantine …

Erasing a third period deficit, the Kalamazoo Wings scored two unanswered in the final 20 minutes to defeat the Wheeling Nailers 2-1 Saturday night at the WesBanco Arena. Despite being outshot 9-6 in the opening period, an early power-play opportunity put the Nailers on the scoreboard. Finding a loose puck to the left of K-Wings goaltender Riley Gill, Nick Peterson …

Hilma Irene Gherna, 86, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 in Three Rivers. She was born March 25, 1925 in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Willy Paul and Ida (Turner) Schoppe. Hilma graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1943. She was united in marriage to Joseph D. Gherna in September of 1952. Through the years she worked at …

Hazel Joyce Martin, 78, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at the Heartland Health Care Center. Joyce was born on May 28, 1933 in Calhoun County, the daughter of Russell and Hazel (Peaslee) VanAlstine. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her son, Brian Jon Carpenter; one brother, Russell VanAlstine; two sisters, Iva Lee and …

Arlene J. Fraim, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 16, 1920, in Brandon, Colo., a daughter of the late Chester and Pearl (Marks) Doremus. She had resided in Sturgis since 1961, coming from Grand Ledge. Her early life was spent in Shelton, Neb., where she …

It hardly seems possible that a year has come and gone. I remember that night so vividly like it was just yesterday. But at the same time, it seems so long ago. When my dad passed away last January, quietly in his chair in the living room, it came as a surprise. It wasn’t like I thought he was going …

KALAMAZOO — When Yale University came knocking, Kalamazoo Wings defenseman Mike Matczak did not hesitate to answer. “I mean, being recruited to play Division I hockey at an Ivy League school, that’s a no-brainer,” Matczak said. Matczak said they were fortunate to have one of the top teams in the country during his time at Yale and would not trade …