St. Joseph County United Way continues to accept food and monetary donations for its 2024 “Thanksgiving for All” event. The annual event provides a Thanksgiving meal for up to 500 families who otherwise might not have a Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy. Non-perishable foods can be dropped off at the United Way’s Centreville-based headquarters. In addition, collection boxes have been set …

Here’s a reminder that Fibre Converters of Constantine is offering a matching grant of up to $100,000 toward installation of new playground equipment at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Director Jaymes MacDonald said total cost of the project is $320,000. The county has already received a $77,000 grant and plans to provide in-kind …

Georgeanna I. Clark, age 99, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at the Birches Assisted Living in Leonidas.  She was born on November 4, 1925 the daughter of George and Alice (Isham) Biteman.  On November 14, 1943 Georgeanna would marry the love of her life, William A. Clark in Coldwater.  At a very young age, she proved to …

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Cupp has agreed to a two-year contract renewal. The matter was confirmed during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Cupp, a 50-year-old Mendon Township resident, is completing her seventh year as the highest-ranking, non-elected employee in county government. She said she appreciates the confidence the seven-member board has in her and her ability …

Kalamazoo Diocese Bishop Edward M. Lohse, a number of St. Edward’s Catholic Church dignitaries and more than 60 people gathered Monday for the blessing of a new section of cemetery in Mendon. The area is south of the church’s current cemetery and large enough to accommodate 770 graves, church officials said. The land was purchased by a parishioner’s family and …

A number of appointments and re-appointments were made during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The seven-member board appointed Thomas Sikorski to the newly created Materials Management Planning Committee, Elena Meadows to the St. Joseph County Planning Commission, Raul Morales to the Pivotal Board (formerly Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County), and Joe …

George Arvid “Doc” Bergman, DVM, age 93, long time veterinarian of Cassopolis, died peacefully at home Wednesday, November 13, 2024, after a long period of living with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born January 5, 1931 in Cassopolis, the first of two sons born to Dr. Roy and Lois (Townsend) Bergman.  George attended school in Cassopolis before studying veterinary medicine at …

Kathryn M. (Plattner) Fry, born on November 11, 1924 at home in Sturgis, died peacefully on Monday, November 18, 2024, exactly one week after she celebrated her 100th birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pearl (Ritter) and Vern Plattner, her sisters, brother, and husband. The youngest of five children, Kathryn followed the lead of her brother, Bud, …

A Branch County man was injured last week after a propane tank exploded at his residence. Sherwood Fire Department personnel were called just before 7 a.m. Friday to a home on Blossom Road, west of Ralston Road, in response to a man suffering burns on his hands, face and head. The 70-year-old victim told authorities he was attempting to light …

Allan A. Kramer, age 80, of Mendon, passed away at his home unexpectedly on Saturday, November 16, 2024.  He was born in Chicago on January 6, 1944 the son of Alfred and Katherine (Kocinski) Kramer.  Allan attended Chicago Vocational High School and was part of the 1965 graduating class.  Following graduation, Allan joined the United States Army where he served …