Mary J. Young, age 84, of Constantine, died Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Heartland Health Care Center. She was born April 1, 1931, a daughter of George and Vira (Gilbert) Tilford. Mary graduated from Constantine High School in 1949. On May 1, 1954, she married Raymond Young at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine. Mary was active in school and community for her …

A Three Rivers man was killed in a 2-car crash early last evening at the intersection of US-131 and M-216. The victim was identified as 26-year-old David Banks, Jr. He was a passenger in the back seat of a car driven by Zare Holmes, age 23, of Three Rivers. She was northbound at the traffic light in the left lane, …

Three Rivers police said an investigation is ongoing into a situation involving nude photos of a juvenile being distributed to Three Rivers Middle School students. According to a department media release, the department was contacted Jan. 27 by middle school officials regarding photos a male student allegedly sent of himself to multiple female students. Possible charges of possession and distribution …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit last week executed a search warrant for a subject wanted on several felony warrants in the 200 block of North Prospect Street in the city of Sturgis. A man in his 20s was taken into custody after he was arrested Friday. Numerous narcotics-related charges will also be requested due to a …

Caretakers from Binder Park Zoo and Black Pine Animal Sanctuary worked several hours Friday to remove exotic animals from a Mottville Township residence. Meanwhile, Jessica Achberger, 40, and Troy Leiby, 40, were arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges, and keeping exotic animals without a license. They were released from jail Friday after posting 10 percent of a $5,000 cash/surety bond. …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker of said last week he will not seek re-election to an eighth term this fall. Baker, 64, indicated his intention after he turned down the vice chairman position for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency during its monthly meeting Thursday. Baker spent more than 25 years with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department before retiring …

The December unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by four-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.1 percent December unemployment rate was less than November’s 3.5 percent. December’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percent less than the same month one year …

A Marcellus woman was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital after she was involved in a two-vehicle accident last week in Park Township. State police said Sheri Bethard, 53, was westbound on Heimbach Road attempting to cross the northbound lane of U.S. 131 shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday, when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Nancy Visel, 62, …

Fred Cooper, Jr., age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home. He was born near Vicksburg on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1928 the son of Fred and Frieda (Lowe) Cooper and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1946, and later served in the U.S. …

Richard A. Lewis, 60, of Mottville Township, Constantine, passed away Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1955, in Three Rivers, a son of Richard E. and Wanna L. (Keller) Lewis. He was a resident of the Mottville area for the past 15 years, coming from Stone Lake. He was a graduate of White Pigeon …