Three personnel matters were approved last Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Tim Barnes was promoted from road patrol officer to road patrol sergeant at $26.81 an hour retroactive to Jan. 27. A salary for Kitty Buchner was also approved. Starting April 1, Buchner will serve as jail administrator as the successor to the retiring Tim Schuler. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller was a visible figure in the community last week. Miller spent the day Friday making public appearances at locations in Centreville and Colon. The 27-year-old freshman representative spent a portion of the morning at the St. Joseph County Health Center in Centreville. Miller was given a tour of the facility and later met with representatives to …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is accepting advance orders for its annual spring tree sale. Though quantities are limited, the advance sale is on through April 1. Nine different conifers – ranging from blue spruce and red pine to balsam fir – and a variety of eight deciduous trees – including black cherry, red maple and hazelnut – are …

A Sherman Township residence on Lake Templene was destroyed by fire last week. The Lakewood Circle home was vacant when the blaze was reported around 5 p.m. A pair of ice fishermen noticed smoke coming from the residence and alerted central dispatch, according to the Centreville Fire Department. Investigators from the Michigan State Police are looking into the situation, but …

Federal officials say bald eagles reached a record 750 breeding pairs in Michigan in 2014. Consumers Energy reports that many of the eagles trace their roots to eagles that nested near Tippy Dam and other hydro facilities the utility operates along the Manistee, Au Sable and Muskegon rivers. The dams create backwater habitat where eagles can find secluded nesting sites …

Kalamazoo Public Safety officers are investigating the early Saturday morning shooting of a young man. Investigators say officers were responding to the report of a large fight before 2:30 a.m. Saturday when they found a Kalamazoo man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the victim, who is in his early 20s, would not cooperate with authorities and gave no …

Katie Jean Alexander-Longacre, age 28, of Centreville, passed away Saturday, March 7th, 2015. Katie was born in Kalamazoo, MI on April 3, 1986, a daughter of Vicky Lynn (Kannegieter) Alexander and David Wright Alexander. On September 6, 2014, she married Jerry E. Longacre in Nottawa. She attended Mendon Public Schools and later obtained her GED from Three Rivers.  Katie worked as a …

Walter M. Tokarski, age 94, of Three Rivers,  died Friday, March 6, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Wilson, MI on June 10, 1920 the son of John and Barbara (Pierhal) Tokarski. The family moved to Three Rivers in 1926, and Walter attended Three Rivers schools. He served in the U.S. Army with the 96th …

Melvin Alger Taylor, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away on March 5, 2015 at Riverview Manor. He is survived by one son, Gregory M. Taylor and one daughter Melodee A. Taylor. Cremation has taken place and no services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Amy Louise Kennedy, age 46, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at her family’s home who has cared for her after a courageous battle with cancer. Amy was born on September 6, 1968 in Three Rivers, MI the daughter of Jack Jr. and Patricia (Meyer) Kennedy. Amy attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School and graduated with Honors from Three Rivers …