St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners last week renewed its snow-removal and plowing contract with Scott Adams, of Centreville-based Adams Excavating Inc. The contract calls for the service when a significant amount of snow falls and must be cleared before the start of the workday at the county courthouse, the county annex building, and the county sheriff’s department and adjoining …

Four county firefighters from three different agencies were recognized during a ceremony in Colon last week. The St. Joseph County Fireman’s Association honored Burr Oak firefighter Charles Ankney and Centreville firefighter Roger Rumsey and their 51 years of service. Recognized for 54 years of firefighter service for the Mendon Fire Department were Sharon “Bookie” Buchner and Loyd Hart. State Rep. …

A Sturgis man was charged with domestic assault following an incident at 3 a.m. Friday in the 1300 block of Cato Lane. Upon arriving at the scene, police noticed a woman holding her child outside their residence. The name and age of the suspect was not provided in a media release. He was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail.

Maxine Schmidtendorff, age 88, of of Constantine, passed away Saturday, October 20th, 2012. Maxine was born in Delaware , Ohio on August 1, 1924, a daughter of Clarence and Mary (Thomas) Breece. Maxine graduated from Constantine High School. On July 9, 1943 she married Forrest Schmidtendorff in Reno NV . Maxine lived most of her life in the Constantine areaand was amember …

Bonnie Jo Jarratt, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, at home. She was born March 6, 1957, in Three Rivers, a daughter to Duane Sr. and Janet (Breece) Jarratt. Bonnie has resided in Sturgis for 30 plus years, moving here from Centreville. Bonnie received her medical assistant degree from Glenn Oaks Community College and …

Jean Kay Hendricks, 70, of Three Rivers, passed away on Oct. 13, 2012 at the Borgess Medical Center. She was born Aug. 7, 1942 in Dowagiac the daughter of Henry and Eloise (Broyles) Davidhizar. Jean has been a long time resident of Three Rivers and Centreville. She was a member of the Amazing Grace Church in Portage. Jean never met …

James Earl “Jim” Rand, 70, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Oct. 17, 2012 at Three Rivers Health. Jim was born Aug. 27, 1942 in Constantine the son of the late Wallis L. and Florence A. (Barr) Rand-Norton. Jim graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1960. He later graduated from Michigan State University in June 1965 with a …

Marjorie E. Huff, 75, of Jones, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. She was born April 25, 1937 the daughter of Rolland and Gladys (Mitty) Hayes. On Jan. 1, 1978 she married Danuel J. “Chuck” Huff who preceded her in death on April 1, 1997. She was baptized in 1997 at the Pleasant View Church of Christ in Cassopolis. She …

Robert Lewis May, “Mayor Bob,” 66, of Hastings, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012 at Pennock Hospital surrounded by his family and friends. Robert was born in Kalamazoo on Jan. 23, 1946, the son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Abshire) May. He was raised in the Three Rivers area and attended …

Sheriff’s Deputies in Kalamazoo County are trying to get a fourth suspect in a triple shooting last spring to turn himself in.  An arrest warrant on attempted murder and armed robbery charges has been issued for Tyshaun Robinson in the April 11th shooting at the Concord Place Apartments in Oshtemo Township.  Detectives say they have talked to Robinson on the …