Minnie Lillian Ellard, age 87, of Mendon, died Monday July 15, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Browntown, VA on June 30, 1926 the daughter of Weaver and Gladys (Thornhill) Clem. She later moved to Washington D.C. where she attended school and worked as a secretary for the Civil Defense Department. Minnie was married to …

This is the middle of July, so I feel that this is really the middle of summer. Actually, we still have plenty of days of hot weather ahead of us. The water temperature of Lake Michigan is still in the low sixties. I remember when Lake Michigan wasn’t really warm enough to swim in until sometime in August. I’m a …

Robert G. Kosakowski, age 78, of Colon, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Community Health Center of Branch County in Coldwater. Bob was born in Chicago, a son of the late Tom and Mary (Opolski) Repinski. On Jan. 2, 1954, he married Phyllis Machalk in Daggett. Bob graduated from Stephenson High School in Stephenson. He had made his home …

Harriett E. Taylor, age 83, of Sturgis, MI passed away Sunday, July 14, 2013 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI. She was Born Feb. 27, 1930 in Constantine, MI a daughter of the late Marcus and Ethel (Bowersox) Lewis. Harriet graduated from Mendon High School and had been a resident of St. Joseph County and the Sturgis area …

A 27-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested over the weekend after he was found driving a stolen car. Sturgis Police said a pizza-delivery vehicle was stolen shortly after 7 p.m. Friday from the 1100 block of South Centerville Road. A deputy from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department spotted the vehicle around 3 a.m. Saturday in White Pigeon, where the …

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman is advising residents to be aware of a scam that has resurfaced locally. Bringman said UPS or FedEx service is typically employed to deliver documents and a check or money order as the result of an alleged winning a lottery or cash prize. Under the premise of covering taxes, recipients are urged to cash …

Final numbers are still being calculated but a recent golf outing to help a local deputy has exceeded $35,000 in fundraising efforts. The latest figure is more than the $20,000-plus organizers had originally estimated for a fundraiser in support of T.J. Baker. A 36-year-old deputy with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, Baker recently opted to have his left arm …

Robert E. Hagen of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, May 17, 2013, at Borgess Medical Center. Born Dec. 11, 1934, in Sturgis, Robert was the son of the late William and Ilo (Waltz) Hagen. As a lifelong resident of Sturgis and a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Robert spent his youth involved in 4-H before earning the rank of …

County sheriff deputies responded to a call early Monday evening of a suspicious man who had brandished a knife. When officers attempted to make contact with the subject, the 25-year-old man from Kent County fled, reaching speeds over 100 MPH. The pursuit started at US-131 and Hoffman, and continued northbound to where it ended on Michigan Avenue. The suspect driver …

Marjorie Ann Beard, age 67, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at her home. She was born on February 21, 1946 in East Lansing, MI. the daughter of Norman and Ruth (Orr) Mills. Mrs. Beard has been a lifelong resident of this area outside of a few brief years working in Fort Wayne. She retired …