The Kalamazoo Wings have hired Joe Roberts as its new director of public relations and broadcaster. Roberts began his professional career with the K-Wings as an intern during the fall of 2010, and has since been employed by the team in several different capacities. Most recently, his responsibilities included acting as the in-game emcee and PA announcer during the 2014-15 …

A 13-year-old Detroit area boy with a visual impairment due to albinism has been denied the use of an easier-to-see baseball during a national Little League tournament. WJBK-TV and MLive.com report that Ryan Huizdos’ Grosse Pointe Woods team was told the yellow baseball he uses while batting in local games was not approved by the national organization. Ryan played in …

  Puurrrrr, Please come in and see me. I am a beautiful black, intact male, three years old. My eyes are so dark. The ladies here at Animal Control tell me I deserve a single cat home with mature humans. The staff here just discovered that I eat better when given cooked chicken. Won’t you please make me part of …

Speed and alcohol may have been factors in a one-vehicle crash that injured a woman Tuesday in Nottawa Township, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s Department. Deputies said Jennifer Ann Bainbridge was driving west on Cupp Road near the intersection of Walterspaugh about 1:30 p.m., when the vehicle left the road just east of Walterspaugh. The car slid …

Members of Colon Community Schools Board of Education recently took a pass on the idea of buying an ice and water dispenser as an income-generating concept. During discussion of the issue at their June school board meeting, district officials agreed that under different circumstances and in more prosperous times, the proposal might receive more serious consideration. Board members agreed that …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging board has asked county commissioners to reappoint Dawn Everett, Allen Balog, Jim MacTavish, Chuck Thompson and Barb Fisher to new two-year COA board terms. In a related matter, trustees re-appointed officers including Margaret Shultz, chairman; Jon Withers, vice chairman; Charles Willer, treasurer; and Thompson as secretary.

White Pigeon officials have announced the village’s citizens of the year are the Rev. Wilbur Brandli and wife, Gloria. The couple arrived in White Pigeon in November 1968, coming from Paterson, N.J. In their early days in White Pigeon, the couple took on the challenge of a small church ministry along with their son, Tim, and their daughter, Gail. The …

The annual Palmer Lake Flotilla will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Palmer Lake launch just off Burr Oak Road. The rain date is noon Sunday. This year’s theme is “Cartoons and Comic Strips.” Participants will decorate their boats with inspiration from popular cartoons or comic strips. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third places, with a …

Police say a 14-year-old boy had his left hand blown off by a homemade firework device in southwestern Michigan. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety says the child and a 12-year-old boy were injured on Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded and the boys were hospitalized for treatment. Police say the 12-year-old had minor injuries to his face. Police didn’t immediately …

Ruth Marion (Struven) Stump, age 95, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, July 01, 2015 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Ruth was born on April 12, 1920 in Riverdale, IL to Bernhard and Frieda (Abraham) Struven. In 1938, she graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, IL. On April 19, 1941 she married Edward Lorenz Stump in Dolton, …