State Rep. Aaron Miller was named by Speaker Kevin Cotter to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, where he will chair the House State Police Appropriations Subcommittee and serve on three additional subcommittees. In addition to the chairmanship of the State Police Subcommittee, Miller will serve as vice chair on the Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee and will be …

A 30-year-old Howe, Ind., man was arrested last week on charges related to criminal sexual conduct. Keith Lewis Jr. has been charged with one count of first-degree CSC, two counts of second-degree CSC and one count of cruelty toward a child. Lewis is accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old child in 2013 at a St. Joseph County home. Additional details …

The Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees last week adopted a tuition-reimbursement policy for employees. The program is aimed to help eligible employees improve job skills and enhance opportunities for advancement. Full-time employees on the job at least a year as a regular-status employee are eligible. Courses must be from an accredited college, university or trade school and must …

A Constantine man was seriously injured in a crash late Friday night west of White Pigeon. According to state police, 46-year-old Glenn Greene crossed the center line on US-12 at Blue School Road, and collided with a semi tanker rig head-on. The driver of the semi, Louis Addington, 51, of Owosso, sustained minor injuries. Greene was taken to Three Rivers …

Marie McCallie, age 78, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Jan. 16th, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 21, 1936 in Searcy, Arkansas the daughter of the late George Ray and Lena Modena (Martin) Neal. Mrs. McCallie has been a long time member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. She loved to cook …

Wayne Arthur “JR” Spearow, Jr., age 62, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, January 15th, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  JR was born in Elkhart on July 27, 1952, a son of Wayne Arthur and Phyllis Ann (Collins) Spearow, Sr.  He attended Elkhart Schools.  JR worked as a truck driver for many local companies.  He loved sports, cartoon …

Dean Robert Rice, 93, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 at Fairview Living Center in Centreville, where had been a resident for the past four years. Dean was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 5, 1921, the son of Henry and Verna (VanNordstrand) Rice. Dean had lived his entire life in the Three Rivers area. …

Richard Eugene Oates, age 84, of Long Lake, Colon, passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Christa (Lambrecht) Oates; dear father of Connie (Brian) Demkowicz, Charlotte (Sean) Kelly, Dan Oates, Marianne (Tim) Loso and Jennifer Bowman; loving grandfather of 21 grandchildren; brother of Paul (Kathy) and Gene (Vivian) Oates; brother-in-law of Maxine Oates, Thea (Udo) …

Kalamazoo County is investigating complaints of Interstate 94 pileup victims who say they had to pay excessive towing and lot fees following last week’s 193-vehicle wreck. The county’s corporate counsel Thom Canny says some motorists report they were charged several hundred dollars when they went to get their vehicles from a towing business. The county has a contract with the …

Gregory A. Paxton, age 44, of Three Rivers, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 13, 2015, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born April 28, 1970, in Three Rivers, a son of Arden and Bonita (Battaglino) Paxton. Greg resided in Oxnard, Calif., and was a graduate of Oxnard High School with the class of 1988. He returned …