The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working alongside the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to decrease impaired driving. Starting Friday and continuing through Jan. 1, sheriff’s deputies will be participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement period. ln support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of local residents, …

Michigan State Police “Stuff a Blue Goose” event generated a considerable amount of holiday food and toys for less fortunate families in St. Joseph County. The one-day collection took place Dec. 2 outside Walmart stores in Three Rivers and Sturgis. Sgt. Todd Peterson said the 2023 drive netted nearly 900 pounds of food and about 1,400 toys at the Three …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters issued a media release related to drinking water. Peters stated he helped pass a bipartisan infrastructure law, which included $15 billion to help remove and replace lead pipes in Michigan communities. He said the investment will support a transformative effort to replace lead pipes and help more families access safe drinking water. Peters said through his …

Cora Graber, age 96, of Three Rivers, formerly of White Pigeon, passed away at 1:02 pm on Friday, December 8, at Birch Meadows Senior Care in Three Rivers. She was born on March 2, 1927 in Arthur, IL to William and Mary Ann (Mast) Miller. On August 21, 1948, at Clinton Brick Mennonite Church, she married Joseph A. Graber. He …

Susan Marie Taylor left this earth suddenly, and much too soon, on December 5, 2023. Susan was born December 18, 1962 in Fort Wayne to Robert L. and Jane E. Taylor. Susan, one of seven children, grew up in White Pigeon. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT in 1990. She was preceded in death by her brother …

Jay Dee Swinehart, age 61, of Goshen, passed away on December 4, 2023 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, following a long illness. Jay was born on September 22, 1962 in Three Rivers to Shirley (Hackler) and Norman Swinehart. After Jay graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1980, he worked nearly 40 years in the RV industry, most recently for …

One hundred years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today, everyone has a car and only the rich have horses. If you are planning on sending Christmas gifts to family and friends via the U.S. Postal Service, now would be a great time to start taking those packages to the post office. The long lines …

Leonard James Beers, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, December 10, 2023 at Edgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. He was born March 30, 1944 in Sturgis, son of the late Clarence L. “Speed” and Betty Jean (Harris) Beers. James was a lifelong Sturgis resident. In 1962 he married Dixie Jacobs. She preceded him in death …

Judy Shafer, age 81, of LaGrange, died on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital. Mrs. Shafer was born on June 1, 1942, in Fort Wayne to Lawrence D. “Buck” and Mary J. (Myers) Witham. She worked as an assembler at Dometic Corporation and had worked at other various jobs. On January 23, 1974, in LaGrange, Judy was married …

Dorothy Evelyn Fennell, age 97, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Health Win Nursing Home in South Bend. Dorothy was born in Sturgis on October 2, 1926 to the late David and Pearl (Yunker) vonOlnhausen. Dorothy married Richard Arthur Fennell on October 5, 1947 at the Pretty Prairie Church in Howe, Indiana. She was preceded in death by …