Teal Denise Jones, age 59, of Three Rivers, died peacefully Saturday, April 24, 2021 at home in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began September 15, 1961 in Niles, the sixth child born to Duane and Joyce Gillam. She married Darryll Jones July 4, 1980 in Cassopolis. He survives. Teal (also known as “Half-Pint” to her family) was …

Thomas Richard Ritter, age 78, of Bronson, and a former longtime Burr Oak resident, passed away early Monday morning April 19, 2021 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born October 13, 1942 in Sturgis, son of the late Richard and Marita (Blasius) Ritter. Tom resided in Bronson for the past 10 years coming from Burr Oak. On September …

Edith M. “Edie” Picker, age 87, of Sturgis, was welcomed into heaven by her husband, mom, dad, four sisters, four brothers, two nephews and one niece early Tuesday morning April 27, 2021 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born September 13, 1933 in Kendallville, daughter of the late Floyd and Rosa (Murphy) Goodpaster. Edie resided in Wolcottville, Indiana …

Edward H. Hults, age 72, of Centreville, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 27, 2021 at his home. He was born February 18, 1949 in New York City, son of the late Frank and Marion (Williams) Hults. Ed resided in the Sturgis area since 1965 coming from Detroit. He had been employed by Secure Domes and Mirrors in Sturgis, Coachman …

Today marks the third day of a two-week pause of in-person learning and athletics for Three Rivers High School. Superintendent Ron Moag said the district’s mandate to revert to distance learning was made by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. A surge in COVID-19 cases at the high school warranted the measure. The district’s middle school and its four elementary …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County, and one of its neighboring counties, was lower than the rate in February. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. St. Joseph County’s 4.9 percent unemployment rate for March was down from 5.2 percent the previous month. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a …

Mendon Community Schools was recently acknowledged for donating a bus that was taken out of commission and donated for hands-on training. Members of the Mendon Fire Department sent a letter of thanks to superintendent Leasa Griffith for the opportunity to carry out an extrication exercise involving more than 30 firefighters from five area departments. The event took place April 17 …

Centreville Public Schools plans to buy two new buses as a component of the district’s 2013 voter-approved millage request. Board members on Monday agreed to buy a pair of 2019 Cummins diesel-engine buses from Midwest Transit. Board president Jeff Troyer said the vehicles were subject to a bid process and total cost was $131,286 for the pair. The district will …

Christopher John “C.J.” Hoeppner, age 22, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at his home. He was born in Dearborn on October 12, 1998 the son of David and Marey (Pierson) Hoeppner. Christopher was raised in Three Rivers and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 2017. He served his country honorably in the United States …

Constantine village officials are in the preliminary stages of planning the municipality’s Fourth of July celebration. Addressing the matter during last week’s village council meeting, village manager Mark Honeysett said considering the holiday this year falls on a Sunday, he advised the start of the Independence Day parade move from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate worship services earlier …