Last week’s New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home program drew fewer passengers than it did one year earlier. Despite the decrease from 35 a year ago to 26 this year, St. Joseph County Transportation Authority officials are calling the 2014-15 event a success. Marci Goodman, operations manager of the Three Rivers-based agency, said Free Ride Home would be a success …

One person was injured in a single-vehicle crash last week in Constantine Township. State police were called shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday to the 11000 block of Millers Mill Road. Upon further investigation, troopers found that the driver was westbound on Millers Mill when his vehicle crossed both lanes of traffic and rolled down an embankment. The driver freed himself …

Beverly Janet Withers, age 87, of Kalamazoo passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Crystal Woods Assisted Living. Beverly was born in Sturgis, MI on July 4, 1927 the daughter of Earl and Edna(Martin)Light. Beverly was a long time resident of Three Rivers where she participated and donated much of her time to community and church events. She was …

Virginia J Rumzie, age 65, of Centreville, passed away Friday, January 2nd, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. She was born in Brookville, PA February 1, 1949, a daughter of Earl and Virginia (Silvis) Kahnell. Virginia graduated from Titusville High School, PA in 1967. She served in the US Army from 1968 to 1969. On March 12, 1982 she married …

Authorities say a southern Michigan man was killed when a limb from a tree he was helping to cut down fell on him. The Branch County sheriff’s department says the accident happened about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Butler Township, east of Coldwater. The Hillsdale Daily News says the department identifies the victim as 39-year-old Shane A. Connin, who lived in …

Gasoline just keeps getting cheaper in Michigan, where the average pump price dropped Thursday to $1.97 a gallon — the lowest since March 2009. Prices on New Year’s Day 2015 were down 13 cents in the past seven days, AAA Michigan said. Gas was 42 percent cheaper than it was one year ago, when the average price per gallon was …

Kenneth Leroy Jungjohan, age 86, of Mendon died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 following a long illness. He was born in Davenport, IA on Dec. 15, 1928 the son of William H. and Myrtle U. (Frazer) Jungjohan. Ken came to Michigan in 1946 from Rock Island, IL. He was married to Phyllis Anderson on July 15, 1950 in Mendon. Ken worked …

Tisha M. Durbin, age 38, of Marcellus, MI passed away unexpectedly Friday, January 2, 2015 at Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI She was born May 8, 1976 in Kalamazoo, MI the daughter of Arthur Quinn and Kathy Sue (Schmidtendorff) Durbin. She enjoyed reading, writing and music. She was adventurous and enjoyed traveling. Tisha had a very kind heart, was giving and …

Karl Allen Stevens, 69, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at home, after a long battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 1, 1945 to the late John and Virginia (Smith) Stevens in Three Rivers. Karl married Karleen Philips on Nov. 25, 1967. He was a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and brother. Karl graduated from …

Etta Jane (Lewis) Griffin, age 77, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Three Rivers, MI on April 20, 1937, the daughter of the late Warren and Ruth (Franklin) Lewis. Etta graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1955 and was DAR …