The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority saw a 1-percent decrease in its ridership numbers in its 2013-14 fiscal year compared to the previous 12-month period. CTA executive director Steve Yorks said the agency’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30. It provided 96,042 rides for the period, down 739 rides from the 2012-13 fiscal year. Yorks said despite the reduction, the CTA …

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Office investigated a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Leonidas Township. Police were called at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 31000 block of Covey Road. The victim told police someone used a tool to pry off the lock to a garage. Items stolen included a riding lawn mower and a 300-piece craftsman socket …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has granted approval to Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman to re-apply for a state grant. During action at last week’s commission meeting, Stutesman sought permission to pursue a grant worth in excess of $280,000 for the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation program. The program is already in place and received high praise from …

Jeane Fae Houck, age 72, of Sturgis, and formerly of Colon, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. Jeane was born July 15, 1942, a daughter of the late Jack Brandon and Tekla (Sauer) Matchett. She had lived all of her adult life in St. Joseph County and had graduated from White Pigeon High …

James “Jim” Edward Fisher, age 91, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 in Cassopolis. He was born on July 22, 1923 the only child to Marie (Bartozak) and Max (Marion) Fisher of South Bend. He grew up on Chapin Street, where he helped his father run Fisher’s Meat Market. In 1942, Jim joined the United States Naval Corps. He …

Kenneth Lee Becker, age 39, of Kalamazoo, died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 in Kalamazoo. He was born in Ft. Benning, GA on April 1, 1975 the son of Don Lee and Mary Jane (Roberts) Becker. Ken graduated from Three Rivers High School and attended the Branch County Career Center. He was a carpenter who worked at Viking R-V in Centreville …

Alice E. Barnes, 88, passed away peacefully October 9, 2014 in Atlantis, FL at JFK Medical Center, where she had been a volunteer. Alice had also resided in Boynton Beach, FL and Tinton Falls, NJ . Alice was born on August 21, 1926 in Three Rivers, MI to Burl and Doris (Hilbert) Byers from Farmer, OH. Alice received her AA …

Two duck hunters were rescued from the St. Joseph River Sunday morning in Lockport Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the two were duck hunting with a 12-year-old boy shortly before 7 a.m. in the 62000 block of Constantine Road in Lockport Township. Deputies were called to assist with the two men, who were unable to free themselves …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has reached an employment agreement with the county’s finance director. During last week’s commission meeting, the board and Joni Smith signed a one-year contract retroactive to Oct. 1. The contract reflects compensation for a number of additional duties Smith has been delegated in the past two years. Those responsibilities include budget preparation and managing …

The Sturgis City Commission last week approved three design-task orders for 2015 street projects. The orders allow the city to get a head start on completing preliminary design, final design and bidding phases for each project this winter, in preparation for street work next spring. The city street repairs were approved for West Dresser Drive and Congress Street, and milling …