St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said justice was served Monday, as jurors in the Andy Brown murder trial issued a verdict of guilty of second-degree murder. The 37-year-old Brown was also found guilty on a charge of felony use of a firearm. Monday’s decision capped the nine-day trial in which the nine-woman, three-man jury heard testimony related to the …

A former teacher in Constantine and Three Rivers has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct. David D. Wing, 59, of Three Rivers, also faces a charge of child sexually abusive activity. All charges are felony offenses. Wing was arraigned Monday afternoon by magistrate Ryan Smith following his arrest Saturday at his King Street residence. According to a …

Fred Joseph Churchill, age 68, of Marcellus, Michigan passed away on July 12, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo. Fred was born on March 30, 1946 in Dowagiac, MI to Eugene and Edith (Curtis) Churchill and graduated from Marcellus High School in 1964. He then enlisted in the United States Navy, proudly served for four years as an aviation …

Andy Brown has been found guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm. After deliberating for three days, the 12-member jury returned its verdict this morning at 11:20. Brown, a 37-year-old Portage resident, has been in jail since the murder of Sturgis-area CPA David Locey. Locey was found shot three times in his Sherman Township office the morning of Oct. 2. …

Here’s a reminder that crews from the Three Rivers Department of Public Services are conducting a brush pickup. DPS officials ask that residents place brush on the terrace, not in the street,. Crews will be making only one pass to collect brush. The pick-up is for the July 1 storm damage only. The DPS offers a compost drop-off area at …

White Pigeon Days concluded its three-day run Sunday, with a community church service and picnic at Wade Park. Event organizers said Saturday night’s fireworks show was viewed by thousands of people who parked as far away as Dickinson Road to watch the display. Earlier in the evening, Constantine High School’s alumni football squad topped a White Pigeon alumni team, 14-6. …

Dolores T. (Kowal) Smith, age 87, of Kalamazoo, died Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Fountain View Retirement Village. She was born in Chicago on Dec. 16, 1926 the daughter of John and Mary (Hrycyn) Kowal. The family moved to Mendon in 1942 and Dee graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1945. She then graduated from Western Michigan …

It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of our mother Maxine Straley, but with great joy knowing she has went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. Maxine F. Straley, age 77, of Centreville, passed away Friday, July 11th, 2014 at Fairview Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre, Centreville. Maxine was born in Muskegon, MI on July 25, 1936, …

Verneita Rose Lamb, 91, of Mishawaka, Ind., died peacefully in her home surrounded by three generations on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. She was born in Cavalier, N.D. on Feb. 26, 1923 the daughter of Henry and Anna (Andrews) Shafer. While working at Lockheed Aircraft in California during WWII she met Orion Lamb, the love of her life. They were married …

Deliberations in the Andy Brown trial remain ongoing, as the 12-member jury has not yet reached a verdict. The eighth day of the trial Friday featured little action in Judge Paul Stutesman’s circuit court room. An evidence-related question by jurors brought them into the court at 1:30 p.m. Stutesman conferred with prosecutor John McDonough and defense attorney Michael Hills to …