James L. Hawks, age 64, of Elkhart, Indiana passed way Thursday morning June 6, 2013 at the Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart. He was born October 21, 1948 in Marked Tree, Arkansas son of the late James and Jurlean (Atchley) Hawks. James resided in Elkhart the past 25 years. On October 7, 1988 he married Marji Veasy in Elkhart. James …

Two members of the White Pigeon Police De­partment received suspen­sions following a special meeting by the village council last week. The action was the result of investigation by the personnel committee. Chief Lynn Baker and Sgt. Bill Bur­goyne were sus­pended five days each following the board’s action Wednesday. The suspensions are separate from any punishment possibly yielded through the court …

Sturgis Police last week arrested a 66-year-old man on a warrant stemming from a May incident, when he allegedly put his hand up a teenager’s skirt. Department officials said Ira Lytle, 66, was arrested Thursday after an officer who knew of the warrant apprehended the Sturgis resident outside the police station. Two students at the nearby Sturgis Alternative School walking …

Former Three Rivers Mayor Ken Baker has been named the grand marshal of the 2013 Three Rivers Water Festival parade. Baker was chosen by virtue of his many years of service to the city, including his time as chief of police and later as mayor. Baker also is lauded for founding the Friends of Riverside Cemetery organization as well as …

A permit issued last week for the Three Rivers Mural Mall improvement project signals the end of construction related to the downtown attraction. The walk-through area between North Main and Railroad streets was redesigned to include picnic benches, plants, a play area and other items to create a visually appealing area. It also has a surveillance camera with a direct …

About 100 people attended a benefit magic show Saturday at Colon High School. More than $1,000 was raised to help Dan and Kathy Earl and their son, Casey. The Earls owned Curly’s bar and restaurant, which was destroyed by a fire in early March. The three-act, 90-minute magic show featured Rick Fisher, B.J. Mallon and John Sterlini, and music from …

Betty A Fries, 81, of Mendon, died Friday June 7, 2013, at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers, following a short illness. She was born July 23, 1931, in Schoolcraft, a daughter of Millard Pierce and Alice Janice (Amos) Granger. She had been a Mendon resident since 1965, coming from Schoolcraft and Vicksburg. She was owner and operator of Auntie …

Barbara D. (Hochstetler) Yoder, age 91, of Nottawa Road, Sturgis, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2013, at her home after several months of failing health. Barbara was born Oct. 6, 1921, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of the late Daniel and Anna (Wickey) Hochstetler. On Nov. 2, 1941, she married Moses D. Yoder Sr. in Centreville. He preceded her in …

Charles Eugene Burg, 85, passed away at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at Heartland in Three Rivers after an extended illness. He was born March 26, 1928, in Sturgis, to the late Frank and Agnes (Bothamley) Burg. Charles is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Stubig of Sturgis, and Betty (Ralph) Fetch of Constantine; also surviving include several nieces, nephews …

Nine fire departments, including six from St. Joseph County, responded to a commercial blaze Wednesday in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The manufacturing section of Southern Michigan Rubber Co., located on M-60 near the St. Joseph County line, was destroyed by the afternoon blaze. Company officials indicated the fire appeared to have started near the rear of the building in a …