St. Joseph County‘s September unemployment rate fell seven-tenths of a percent from its August figure, according to the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. The decrease to an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent from August to September followed a 1.7 percent decline from the previous one-month period. Gains in education-related fields and fewer people …

A hit-and-run incident involving a parked vehicle is being investigated by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. A department-issued media release indicated a Chrysler van was struck between 8 and 10 a.m. Friday in the Kendall Electric parking lot.

            A 2000 Dodge 3500 dual-wheel pickup truck was stolen earlier this month from a residence in the 12000 block of Riverside Drive, in White Pigeon Township.             The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department reports the vehicle had four flat tires and had remained in place at least five years. The vehicle is inoperable and has a 100-gallon fuel tank, …

State Rep. Matt Lori was recently honored with a Health Advocacy Award from the Cassopolis Family Clinic Network. Lori was recognized for his support of the clinic’s mission to provide necessary, compassionate health care to the people of Cass County. Cassopolis Family Clinic Network has identified 11,700 low-income residents in Cass County and the immediate service area who are not …

Marilyn Marie Warner, 82, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, October 26, 2012 at her home surrounded by family. Marilyn was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers, born on June 20, 1930, the daughter of George and Esther (Horn) Bradford. She worked at the soda fountain at Hudson’s Drug Store before graduating from Three Rivers High in 1948. She later …

Lola Carleen Musser, age 87, of Portage MI, formerly of Bedford, VA, passed away Oct. 24, 2012 at Clare Bridge of Portage. Lola was born on September 26, 1925 in Constantine, MI. the daughter of the late Ernest and Florence Marie (Kelly) Fairchild. Mrs. Musser was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond Dale Musser, who passed away …

Heaven gained a beautiful soul on the morning of Oct. 28, 2012, Judy Ann Grove, age 71, lost her battle with cancer at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Raymond and Caroline (Baker) Vanzile. Judy Grove was a lifetime resident of Sturgis, where she was married to Carl Edwin Grove, they …

Kimberly Ann Richmond, age 35, of Portage, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at her home. She was born April 10, 1977, in Hollywood, Calif. She is the daughter of Paul and Lori (Strang) Richmond. Kimberly lived most of her life in the Kalamazoo area. She had been employed as a nanny. Kimberly had a total love and appreciation …

Barbara M. Chapman, age 71, of Nottawa, passed away early Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Dec. 29, 1940, in Centreville, a daughter of the late Simon and Mary (Yoder) Schwartz. Barbara lived her early life in the Centreville area. In 1964, she moved to Iowa, where she resided until 1973, at …

Douglas L. Souter Sr., 70, of White Pigeon, died Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, at his home of natural causes. He was born March 12, 1942, in Olton, Texas, the son of Tillman and Virginia (Beckett) Souter. He was a White Pigeon resident since 1970, coming from Elkhart, Ind. On May 30, 1969, he married Beverly J. Harris at the White Pigeon …