R. Duane Hassenger, Sr., age 85, of White Pigeon, MI, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2015 at home. Duane was born at his family home in Constantine Twp. on January 19, 1930, a son of Vio and Grace (Young) Hassenger.   Duane graduated from Constantine High School in 1948, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team. On March 27, …

HI, this is a cat “N” Hat. My name is “tiger” I am a petite, female, about 9 months old. I have a short, soft coat. I was a little shy of people, but am coming out of my shell. I ask for attention. I am scheduled for my spay surgery Thursday. Maybe you would like my purrrfect company. My …

St. Joseph County Juvenile Court officials were given a funding boost Tuesday, when the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed after extensive discussion to provide $245,000 in assistance toward the Child Care portion of the court’s budget. A trio of representatives – Juvenile Court Judge David Tomlinson, director Tom Robertson and supervisor Don Happel – stated their case before …

The first step toward a major upgrade at Nottawa County Park was taken Tuesday. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal for a sewage-disposal-system design. The measure means the park is potentially on its way to having sewer service and running water. Currently, restroom amenities feature only pit toilets. Jaymes MacDonald, director of the county’s …

Michael “Mike” D. Walker, age 60, a resident of Cass County Medical Care Facility of Cassopolis for the past 7 years, was finally called home to his Lord and savior on Monday, April 20, 2015. Born inMarch 3, 1955, in Kalamazoo, to Richard A. and Zita C. (Kovach) Walker, Mike was the sixth of nine children. In 1972, he entered …

Helen Louise Miller, age 98, of Three Rivers and Centreville, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2015 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis where she had resided the past two years. She was born in Macedonia, Illinois located in Hamilton County on Aug. 31, 1916 the daughter of Lenzie and Nellie (Smith) Corn. She attended school in Illinois, leaving …

A Colon resident who spent decades organizing the annual Walk For Warmth fundraiser was honored Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Nancy Percival, who indicated this past February’s Walk For Warmth would be her last, received a resolution from the county commission recognizing her dedication to the event. Walk For Warmth, staged for years at the county …

A Sturgis metal-finishing company was destroyed by fire early Tuesday. The Sturgis Fire Department responded shortly after 5 a.m. to Grav-I-Flow Inc., at 4000 Norwood Avenue. According to fire officials, they arrived to the scene and witnessed 30-foot flames shooting from the roof of the building. Due to the magnitude of the fire, assistance was rendered from three area agencies: …

Joetta Cherry of Sturgis was recently presented the C. David Anderson Award. The award is given annually by the Michigan Transition Services Association to an individual who works in the area of education or vocational rehabilitation. Cherry was selected for her support and promotion of transition services through leadership, advocacy and/or innovation. Cherry is a transition coordinator who has worked …

Did you know taking part in a walkathon is illegal in Michigan?  According to State Representative Kurt Heise, chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee, that’s what dance contests were called in the 1920’s and lawmakers back then saw fit back to outlaw them. The Plymouth Republican says it’s also against the law to dance to The Star Spangled Banner, …