Patricia Jean Mechling, age 76, of Constantine, passed into glory on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at her home, surrounded by family. She was born on June 12, 1938 to Arthur and Grace Irene (Shepard) Deitrich of Berrien Springs. She went to Niles Schools graduating in 1956 and later graduated from Davenport University with a degree in business. On June 14, 1969 she …

A rural Burr Oak man died in a house fire Thursday evening on Middle Colon Road. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Terry Shears. Shears was found near a bedroom. A passerby reported the fire as flames were visible at the rear of the home. The preliminary cause of the blaze was careless smoking.

Danny Ray Cast, 73, arrived safely to his heavenly home with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 2. Dan was a gentle man of love, compassion, conviction, faith and great sense of humor. Having been born in Champaign, Ill., on August 22, 1941 his family soon moved to White Pigeon where he grew up being a true …

Michael J. (Mike) Kauffman Sr., age 56, of Burr Oak, passed away, Friday, April 3. 2015, at home surrounded by his loving family. Mike was born Feb. 13, 1959, in Goshen Ind., a son of Jacob (Jake) and Ruby (Pletcher) Kauffman. He had lived most all of his life in St. Joseph County and attended Colon Schools. He married Sherri …

State officials have alerted Michigan veterinarians about a recall of veterinarian medicine provided by a North Carolina pharmacy that has been shut down. The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy issued a recall of all lots of non-sterile and sterile products compounded, repackaged and distributed by Prescription Center Pharmacy between September 10, 2014 and March 10, 2015 due to lack of sterility, …

A fire that destroyed two barns in Kalamazoo County has left five young goats dead. Crews responded about 10 p.m. on Thursday to the fire near Schoolcraft and found smoke and flames spreading from one barn to the other one. No injuries to people were reported. The five goats that were housed in the barn died in the fire. The cause …

A Kalamazoo man has been convicted of killing his 2-year-old son. A Kalamazoo County Circuit Court jury on Thursday found 41-year old Brian Roberts guilty of felony murder, second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse. Nehemiah Dodd was unconscious on December 31, 2013. The toddler died at the hospital two days later. Roberts had claimed his son was hurt after he fell down some …

St. Joseph County could be just a few months from having its first dog park. Members of the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Board this week gave its endorsement to the concept, explained Wednesday by parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald. The proposed 4 1/2-acre park would be developed at the 150-acre Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. MacDonald …

Sturgis Township trustees have agreed to join a consortium of townships from at least four southwest Michigan counties to establish a central building code information library that will have its headquarters in Mottville Township. The idea of establishing a regional code library began recently when an existing law began to be enforced. The law requires governmental units with building-code authority …

Hello. Even though I have an Easter basket, I’m not the Easter Bunny. I am a black and white female terrier mix. The ladies say I am a terrier/kangaroo mix because I do like to jump for attention. I just have a lot of energy and have to learn my manners. I have cute, black freckles on my legs. I …