I was extremely lucky to have a very good assignment when I served in Vietnam in 1966. It was the one conflict when those who served their country were not welcomed home with the kudos they deserved. Since that time, our veterans have been shown the respect and the thanks that those who put their lives on the line deserve …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission Board has a new chairman. Three Rivers resident Dave Allen was nominated to head the five-person board during its meeting last week. Allen replaces John Bippus, who will remain on the board but in a different capacity. County commissioners last month agreed to appoint Allen to a six-year term to the road commission board.

Here’s a reminder that the Three Rivers Lions Club is accepting nominations for its “Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year” award. Since 1965, the Three Rivers Lions Club has recognized residents who – through a commitment to service – have given unselfishly of themselves for the betterment of the community. The “Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year” will …

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has been collaborating with local health departments on a multistate foodborne outbreak of listeriosis. Rebecca Burns, director of the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, said listeriosis is a bacterial infection that causes fever and muscle aches, often preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. Twelve people in six states have been infected with the outbreak …

Ruby Steiner, 71, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Goshen Hospital. She was born in VanWert County, OH on March 21, 1944, daughter of Glen and Viola (Gibson) Copsey. Ruby graduated from Constantine High School in 1962. She married Dennis Steiner on June 17, 1962 at Trinity Missionary Church. She received her cosmetology license from the …

Angeline “Angie” (Rorris) Fudge, age 93, of Klinger Lake, Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2016, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Feb. 5, 1922, in Cedar Lake, Ill., near Chicago, daughter of the late Charles and Asemena (Skufakiss) Rorris. On June 4, 1949, she married Warren J. Fudge in Hammond, Ind. Mrs. Fudge was …

Sheila Kay (Borgert) Macfarlane, age 52, of Schoolcraft, Mich., passed away at Bronson Methodist Hospital on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Sheila was born in Sturgis on Jan. 15, 1964, to Keith and Doris Borgert. She graduated from Sturgis High School in 1982. She attended Western Michigan University and graduated with an MBA degree, BA degree …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has renewed its annual contract with Michigan State University for extension services. During the board’s meeting last week, commissioners OK’d the contract that calls for the full-time equivalent of one extension educator, whose collective duties will include field-crops expertise, program coordination and additional 4-H programs. The county will provide office space, utilities, high-speed internet …

White Pigeon village officials over the weekend lifted a boil-water notice that had been in effect more than two weeks. Municipal officials had notified residents Jan. 7 that the presence of coliform bacteria had been detected in the water supply. Since then, they were urging residents to boil water before use or use bottled water. White Pigeon Department of Public …

A motion regarding an employee-assistance program for St. Joseph County’s government workers was passed during the county commission’s Jan. 19 meeting. The agreement is with Windward Employee Solutions and will provide counseling and referral services for appropriate treatment, and diagnostic and assessment services. The county’s commitment of $5,555 covers helpline and three appointments annually for its 220 employees and their …