St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to fill a vacant position in the two departments. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners agreed to fill a clerk’s spot in the finance department. The post is being filled half-time by a member of the Register of Deeds office. Human resources director Elishia Arver said the position will stay filled in such a …

The former owner of Deer Forest in Coloma is the target of a complaint filed against the animal park by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa tells WSJM Radio the complaint was filed within the past several weeks in the federal court system and is based on several complaints that were filed …

Joyce Ann Hughes, age 71, of Leonidas, died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. She was born in Battle Creek, MI on March 20, 1943 the daughter of Samuel B. and Eddiess (Thomas) Hughes and has been a lifetime resident of Leonidas. She attended the Reserve Country School and worked on the family farm. Joyce loved …

Sherriel D. Coates, of Portage, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014 at her residence. She was born May 3, 1936, in Three Rivers, the daughter of the late Robert L. and Neva L. (Wheeler) Garber and was a longtime Kalamazoo area resident. On Oct. 3, 1953, she was united in marriage to Herbert “Herb” Coates. For many years she …

A plan to limit access into the St. Joseph County Courthouse to a single location is moving forward. The county’s board of commissioners Tuesday agreed to work with Grand Rapids-based Landmark Design for schematic drawings and cost estimates to create the single point of entry. If the full plan is authorized, access to either the original courthouse portion or the …

A Schoolcraft resident was treated for minor injuries after she was involved in a two-vehicle accident this week in White Pigeon Township. State police said 32-year-old Victoria Clark was driving east on U.S. 12 around 10 o’clock Monday morning, when her vehicle collided into the back of a car driven by Thad Jones, 46, of Greenville. The incident occurred near …

A Three Rivers man was seriously injured late Tuesday afternoon in a four wheeler crash on Michigan Avenue north of the city. 74-year-old Gerald Butler was riding the ATV when he attempted to cross the road and collided with a vehicle driven by Jordan Key, age 27, of Kalamazoo. Key swerved to avoid the collision, but a boat trailer he …

Marion L. Charon, age 82 of Three Rivers died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at her home following a long illness. She was born in Chicago, IL on Aug. 3, 1931 the daughter of Edward G. and Mary A. (Lahey) Pearson. As a child her family moved to Michigan, where she graduated from Mendon Schools, and later attended Nazareth College. Marion …

When I think of getting Out and About, my ideas usually center on St. Joe County, Portage, Kalamazoo, and parts of northern Indiana. Traveling out of country is taking it a bit far, but every so often it’s a good idea to go someplace where a passport is needed. In doing this, your appreciation of the good old USA is …

Mrs. Ardyce “Brenda” England, 80, of Norton Shores, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2014. She was born in Alma on June 19, 1934 to Lionel and Beatrice (Harter) Thompson and married Clifford England on Oct. 2, 1955. Mrs. England had been employed in Customer Service at GTE Telephone for 15 years until retiring. Brenda was active at Life Circles for …