St. Joseph County Association of Realtors has named Binnie Price of BPR Binnie Price Real Estate in Constantine as its 2014 Realtor of the Year. The award is given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service for the association, the community and the real estate industry. Nominees are evaluated on their community service, education, business accomplishments and service to the …

A 19-year-old Michigan State University student is facing charges for allegedly making a threat to shoot up a school on a social media site. Matthew Mullen of Northbrook, Illinois was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of false report or threat of terrorism. He was released Wednesday from the Ingham County jail on $10,000 bond. Mullen faces up to 20 years in prison. His …

Clara Sue Schmucker, age 75, of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, November 25th, at her home. Clara was born in White Pigeon, MI on September 25, 1939, a daughter of Raymond Earl and Barbara (Wickey) Schmucker. She worked as a Housekeeper at Froh Community Home in Sturgis for 19 years. Clara enjoyed crafting and researching her Amish geanology. She was a member …

Hi. My name is Mia and I am a female brindle mastiff mix. Don’t let mastiff fool you, though, because I am only about 18” tall. I have short hair and a long tail.and am moderately active. I’m about 4-5 years old. I am a real baby and love nothing more than to crawl into your lap and snuggle. I …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch will soon be receiving a new recorder system. During last week’s county commission meeting, approval was given to replace the 20-year-old recorder currently used by the Centreville-based agency. Human resources director Elishia Arver said the current recorder is plagued with viruses and is long overdue to be retired. Grand Rapids-based software company Van Belkum provided …

The formation of a task force, whose members would attempt to raise public support for a millage request to improve county roads, was proposed last week. During their quarterly St. Joseph County Township Supervisors meeting, members talked at length about the two-question ballot measure road commission officials posed to county voters in August. The requests sought a 1-mill renewal and …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident involving a number of RV trailers in White Pigeon Township. According to an agency media release, troopers were summoned at 3 p.m. Saturday to the 69000 block of U.S. 131, where 17 new trailers were entered. Numerous items valued in excess of several thousand dollars were stolen from inside the trailers. Furthermore, several …

Mendon’s Logan Slaughter and Elijah Klepper were named to the Associated Press’ Division 7-8 All-State Football Team. For Slaughter it was his third appearance on the prestigious team. He was a four-year starter for the Hornets, who went 10-2 in the 2014 season. Klepper, a senior and team captain, rushed for 1,702 yards on 190 carries this season. He averaged …

William E. Esseltine went to be with the Lord on Nov. 23, 2014, surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 8, 1941, at Three Rivers Hospital, to William H. and Edna (Hackenburg) Esseltine). Bill was raised in Colon and lived in Sturgis most of his married life. On Aug. 18, 1963, he married Linda Ackerman. He worked as an …

Police have arrested a Battle Creek man in connection with a fatal stabbing and apartment fire in Kalamazoo over the weekend. The 35-year-old suspect was to be arraigned on charges of open murder and arson Tuesday. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers were called to the Clayborne Court Apartment complex Saturday night. The fire was in a bedroom and fire crews were able …