Two White Pigeon residents were involved in a traffic accident over the weekend in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly before noon Saturday to U.S. 12, just east of M-40, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators determined an eastbound vehicle driven by Marlin Bowers, 69, lost control, swerved into the westbound lane and his car …

A Marcellus man was injured when the vehicle he was driving struck a tree Saturday in Cass County. Sheriff’s officials said deputies were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to M-40, north of Gooding Street. A northbound vehicle driven by 50-year-old Malcom Leo Hudson went out of control due to slick roads and struck a tree head-on. Hudson was transported to Lakeview …

A Florence Township resident advised members of the county commission to be cautious in whether to reappoint a member to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Tim Carls, a fixture at the twice-a-month county commission meetings, told the board last week he has reservations about the reappointment of David Allen. Carls said Allen is busy professionally as well as …

Lillian L. Hofmeister, age 95, of Constantine, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at Bickford Cottage.  She was born May 26, 1920, to Elmer and Neva (Nelson) Clark, at their home south of Corey, MI in Cass County. She attended Laneville rural school and Constantine Schools, graduating in 1937.  She received her 2-year teaching certificate in 1938 from Cass County Normal in …

St. Joseph County was awarded a $15,000 grant toward its water trails project. Accepted during last Tuesday’s county commission meeting, the grant was issued through the Southwest Michigan Regional Prosperity Initiative. Parks and Recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said the funds are to be used for improvements related to river-access points such as parking areas, grading of land leading to rivers, …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is scheduled to begin its inaugural Christmas tree sale today. The agency’s first-time event, which organizers said will serve as a fundraiser, begins at 9 a.m. today at the conservation district office. It is located on the south side of East Main Street, across from Yoder’s Country market. Conservation district intern Hunter Stanke said …

Members of the Constantine Village Council last week approved a parks and recreation five-year plan to improve facilities between 2016 and 2020. Village officials said strengths throughout the village’s 38 acres of parks are good maintenance, water access, open space and large trees. A lack of developed facilities was cited as the village park system’s biggest flaw. Several ideas mentioned …

A Sturgis woman was appointed to a county panel last week. Members of the county commission Tuesday agreed to select Jenny Sue Fair to replace Dennis Bradley on the St. Joseph County Jury Board. Bradley recently resigned from the post. Fair’s term will expire April 30, 2019.

Carl Floyd “Ham” Hammond, 92, passed away on Nov. 17, 2015, in his home. Born in Kalamazoo, he was the son of the late Arthur and Sylvia Hammond and husband to the late Frances Hammond. He was a retired Master Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Navy and a veteran of WWII and Korea. He graduated Three Rivers High School …

Theodore “Ted” Turner Howard, age 70, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, Nov. 20th, 2015 at home following a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. Ted was born on Dec. 20th, 1944 the sixth child of Turner R. and Elsie L. (Flagg) Howard in Kalamazoo, MI. With his five siblings Ted was raised in Kalamazoo and lived all his life …