More than two weeks after the elections, the Democratic candidate for the 20th District State Senate seat State Representative Sean McCann of Kalamazoo says he will request a recount. The results of the election showed McCann losing to Republican State Representative Margaret O’Brien of Portage by a small margin. The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers says their count showed O’Brien won …

Economists at the University of Michigan say the state’s economy will steadily move forward during the next two years after five years of solid growth. In their annual forecast, George Fulton and colleagues Joan Crary and Donald Grimes said the state will add more than 132,000 jobs during the next two years. The U-M economists predicted employment gains of 59,400 jobs …

Martha Jean Myers, age 68, of Mendon, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor following a long illness. She was born in Mendon on Sep. 20, 1946 the daughter of John and Susie (Van Voorhis) Wolfe, was a lifetime resident of Mendon, and attended the Mendon United Methodist Church. She graduated from …

Jeffrey Scott Middlestadt, age 50, of Three Rivers passed away suddenly at Borgess Medical Center on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. He was born on March 13, 1964 in Three Rivers the son of Michael Middlestadt and Bonnie(Swartz)Summers whom survive. Jeff was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He enjoyed many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles. He …

Kathleen A. Kemp, 59, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. She was born Jan. 19, 1955, in Elkhart, Ind., a daughter of Keith D. and Phyliss Elaine (Kelly) Jellison. She spent her early life in Elkhart, later moving to Union and White Pigeon the past five years. She was …

Robert W. Powers, age 85, of Marcellus, MI passed away Friday morning, November 21, 2014 at home. He was born April 18, 1929 in Porter Township, Van Buren County, to Garfield and Grace Powers. In 1949 in Marcellus he married Varetta M. Copenhaver who survives. He graduated from Marcellus High School in 1947 and Michigan State University with a B.S. …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to fill the vacancy of human resources director. Tuesday’s commission meeting was the last for Elishia Arver, 36, who is vacating the position to take a human resources job in the private sector with a company in Angola, Ind. A job description and salary range were not mentioned. …

A new manager for the St. Joseph County Road Commission is expected to be named before the end of the year. Commission board member Eric Shafer said three candidates from a field of 10 legitimate candidates were interviewed this week. The trio was narrowed to two finalists, with second interviews for the pair scheduled to take place in December. Shafer …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has issued a media release alerting the public about a telephone scam in which a Three Rivers business is being fraudulently represented. A number of people are being called in St. Joseph County and being told use of their debit card is locked. The callers claim to be from Century Bank and Trust. …

Jill D. Pagels, 65, of Sturgis, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 at her home. Jill was born on Dec. 11, 1948 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Richard and Joan (Peters) Jacobs. She was a Sturgis area resident since 1969. She was a graduate of Three Rivers High School in 1967 and graduate of Parsons Business School in Kalamazoo with a …