The National Weather Service has now surveyed the damage and confirms an EF2 tornado touched down in St. Joseph County on Tuesday. The survey team says the tornado touched down one mile south of Centreville at 5:41pm, and then tracked northeast, passed north of Colon, then crossed into Branch County. The tornado finally weakened and lifted three miles southwest of …

Great Start Collaborative and several other area agencies are asking for assistance with its monthly diaper distribution. Great Start family liaison Amanda Johnson said the diaper drive has increased its outreach, and doubled the number of families and children since February. Sixty families and 99 children were served at its April distribution. The flip side to that, Johnson said, is the …

A Vicksburg High School creative-writing teacher has been honored as an “Excellence in Education” award winner. The weekly acknowledgment is presented by Michigan State Lottery. For his recognition, David Smith received $2,000. He now becomes eligible for a $10,000 cash prize as the potential Educator of the Year recipient, an honor bestowed at the end of the academic year. Lottery …

Roy J. Buel, age 84, of Centreville, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. Arrangements are pending at Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis.

Jean C. Kelly, age 87, of Goshen, and formerly of Howe, died on May 4, 2024 at Greencroft Healthcare in Goshen. Jean was born on June 25, 1936 in Battle Creek to Urban and Nell (Leestma) Wise. She and her family were long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. Jean worked as a purchasing agent for General Fireproofing, …

Loved and cherished by her family and friends, Laurie McCawley Van Tassel, age 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at her Corey Lake home near Three Rivers. She was born November 4, 1929 in Chicago, the beloved and only daughter of Albert and Blanche (Helmholz) McCawley. Her early married years were spent raising a family with her …

I tried to help the staff here by licking peanut butter off the plate, but the picture just didn’t work out – – so I just posed handsomely.  My name is “Sonic.” I am a male, about a year and a half old.  I am house trained and I get along with kids and some dogs.  I know “sit” and …

County and local officials Wednesday morning canvassed St. Joseph County’s hardest-hit areas – Mendon, Nottawa, Colon and Leonidas townships – to gauge the degree of damage caused by what has now been confirmed as two tornadoes that touched down late Tuesday afternoon in the northeast quadrant of the county. St. Joseph County Emergency Management Director Erin Goff said in her …

Ervan Leroy Taylor, age 61, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, May 6, 2024 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was born July 11, 1962 in Three Rivers, the son of Charles and Agnes (Brooks) Taylor, and graduated from Three Rivers High School. Ervan, also affectionately known as “ET,” worked at Three Rivers Hospital for some time, Harder’s Manufacturing for five …

William C. Parker, age 51, of Constantine, passed away Monday, May 6, 2024 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born November 17, 1972 in South Bend, a son of Kenneth and Pamela (Murphy) Parker. William graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1990 where he served as football team manager for three years. He had worked at D&W …