Jo Ann Rentfrow, age 71, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening with her loving family at her side. She was born on June 20, 1943 in Three Rivers, MI., the daughter of the late Leonard and Lorene (Savage) Dane. Jo Ann has been a lifelong resident of Three Rivers. On Dec. 7th, 1959 she was united in marriage …

Elmer C. “Chuck” Oswald, 83, a man of godly character and integrity, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus. He died on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness. Born on Sept. 29, 1930 in Palms, Mich. the son of Andrew and Marguerite (Potts) Oswald. Graduate of Western Michigan University, veteran …

John “Grady” Overton, 85, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at Three Rivers Health following a brief illness. He was born in Boydell, Ark. on Jan. 25, 1929, the son of the late Edger and Alma (Bradley) Overton. Grady attended school in Jerome before moving to Bald Knob, Ark. In 1949 he was united in marriage …

Charlene A. (Blanchard) Minger, age 70, passed peacefully into eternal life on April 1, 2014 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Char was born Nov. 12, 1943 in Mendon to Maxwell A. and Vada (Campbell) Blanchard. After graduating from Mendon High School, she married David H. Minger on Sep. 1, 1962. As an adult, Char was called into pastoral ministry from …

Authorities say a 50-year-old man has been injured in an explosion while trying to make fireworks at his home in southwestern Michigan. Officers were called around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday to the home in Portage. Public safety Lt. John Blue says a suspected methamphetamine lab also was found at the scene, but that’s being investigated separately. Battalion Chief Rick Palmer says …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has signed a contract with a Sturgis-area man to serve as the grounds attendant at Cade Lake County Park. During action earlier this month, the commission and Burr Oak Township resident Richard Dell settled an agreement leading to Dell’s role for the summer and early fall months at the Fawn River Township park. …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch is asking for help to reduce an increasing number of nuisance 911 calls placed by cell phones stored in pockets, purses and bags. These 911 pocket dials calls usually result from an object depressing a key on the cell phone’s keyboard that is programmed to dial 911 in case of emergencies. Most open-face phones have …

A White Pigeon woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff’s deputies said a car driven by Becky Worth, 48, was heading west on U.S. 12 around 5:30 a.m. June 18 when an approaching car driven by 21-year-old Dwight Ottman of Cassopolis crossed the center line. The vehicles struck in the westbound lane, …

A Sturgis man suffered minor injuries last weekend after the motorcycle he was driving struck a deer in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s officials said Samuel Brackob, 25, was heading north on Balk Road Saturday when a deer entered the roadway near Mintdale Road. Brackob’s motorcycle struck the deer, causing the cycle to veer off the road and come to rest in …

The smell of death in the air at Michigan State University drew crowds following the blooming of the corpse flower. The roughly 5-foot tall flower has the formal name Amorphophallus titanum. Its smell is described as like that of a rotting body, or sometimes merely like dirty socks. Hundreds of people stood in line Tuesday to see the flower at …