The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to include the village of Centreville for services rendered by the county’s grant writer, Lindsay Oswald. During action at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved a proposal calling for the village to pay about $3,200 annually to receive Oswald’s services. The amount represents about 5 percent of the $64,800 in salary and benefits …

Betty L. Duncan, 87, of Metamora, Ill. and formerly of Three Rivers, died at 12:40 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 at Snyder Village in Metamora, Ill. Born on Nov. 14, 1926 in Salem, Ohio, to William and Eva Schafer Coleman, she married Wesley C. Duncan on June 4, 1946 in Urbana, Ohio. Surviving are her husband, Wesley of Metamora, Ill.; …

Mae Bell Dobine, age 84, was born on July 26, 1930 in Sunflower, MS to Willie McCloud and Bessie Lee(Robie) McCloud. Mae passed away October 17, 2014 surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband James Dobine, her parents, and her brother Willie Lee McCloud II. Mae Bell leaves to cherish her memory, four children, Marilyn …

If you’re a regular reader of this column, then you know that I can be quite nostalgic. I sometimes spend too much time dwelling on the past. You might say that my “Memory Bank” is quite full. What I’m leading up to is that I was thinking the other day about how things have changed over the past couple of …

The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched to 107 W. St. Joseph St. Friday after a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed light smoke coming from a sky-lift being used by a masonry crew repairing brick at Sturgis Central Commons. Moments later, something within the sky-lift compartment exploded and the fire intensified. Crews quickly extinguished the fire. Flames …

The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a grant to help a Cassopolis manufacturer expand its operations, which will create jobs and boost the local economy. State Rep. Matt Lori said the village of Cassopolis was awarded a $127,000 Community Development Block Grant to be used toward infrastructure improvements for the Schwintek Inc. expansion project. Schwintek, a manufacturer of automatic Bimini …

Sturgis police arrested two men last week following a series of vehicle break-ins. Officers were dispatched to Market Street for a report of two men, both wearing hoodies and breaking into cars. Police arrested Sevon Gowen, 18, of Sturgis, and Max Shroyer, 19, of LaGrange, Ind. They allegedly had in their possession items that suggested vehicle theft, police said. One …

A second teenager has been found guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of a Kalamazoo middle-schooler during a gang fight.  A Kalamazoo County Circuit Court jury on Monday convicted 18-year-old Rashad Perez of second-degree murder and firearms charges in the May 26 shotgun death of 13-year-old Michael Day.  Perez faces up to life in prison when he’s sentenced Nov. …

Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants of $10,000 or less to shelters and other organizations that work to prevent cruelty to animals.  The agency will allocate $175,000 for the purpose next year and is accepting proposals through Nov. 10.  Registered animal control and animal protection shelters can apply for funds to help increase the adoption rate …

John W. Whitmyer, Sr. age 74, of Constantine, MI passed away at home Monday, October 20, 2014. He was born February 22, 1940 in Cassopolis, MI, the son of Melvin and Emma (Vickers) Whitmyer. He was in the RV Service business until retirement. John enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He also loved spending time with family. Surviving are one …