Tommy L McDonald, age 65, of  Constantine, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014. He was born in Tulsa, OK on August 25, 1948, a son of Albert and Evelyn (Wright) McDonald. Tommy served in the US Navy. On June 30, 1966 he married Donna Barfield in Snyder, TX. Tommy worked as a Master Diesel Mechanic at Tommy’s Diesel in White …

A 59-year-old Three Rivers man who previously taught in Constantine and Three Rivers was reprimanded at least a half dozen times for inappropriate behavior, according to personnel records detailing the employment of David Wing. The documents, released by Constantine Public Schools in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, show the 59-year-old Wing agreed to surrender his teacher’s license in …

Shirley Mae Kelly of Constantine, MI, entered into eternal glory on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on August 1, 1937 a daughter of Enoch and Geneva (Walker) Woulard, in Battle, MS. In 1947 she moved to Chicago, IL, where she later met Willie Hathorne, he preceded her in death on July …

Helen C. Ziemkowski, age 81, of Colon passed away Monday, July 21, 2014, at her home, following a long, brave battle with cancer. Helen was born June 10, 1933, in Hammond, Ind., a daughter of the late Peter and Catherine (Skrobot) Skrobot. She grew up in Hammond and graduated from Hammond Tech in 1951. On Sept. 18, 1954, she married …

Deborah Ann Hansman, of Colon passed away Monday, July 7, 2014, at her home. She was born Aug. 11, 1948, in Huntington, Ind., a daughter of Kathleen Daily. On Jan. 22, 1985, she married Thomas J. Hansman Sr. in Coldwater, and lived most of her life in Branch County. She attended Coldwater schools and retired from Colmers of Colon. She spent 13 …

I thought that I was about as good as one can be when it comes to staying current on what’s happening around Three Rivers. I discovered on Friday, July 11, that this was Dan Tomlinson’s final day as Fire Chief. I had a tribute to him ready for this column to be published on Tuesday, July 29. I was under …

A five-person team spent Saturday morning clearing debris from the Nottawa Creek as part of the ongoing river cleanup effort by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Ross and Alisha Truckey, Matt Davidson, John Nelson and Matt Dinnon cleared garbage out of Nottawa Creek from Rawson’s King Mill Park to the Olney Road bridge in Leonidas Township. Trash collected from …

A man wanted in Sturgis on attempted murder and malicious destruction of property charges has been arrested. Sturgis Police said Jorel Gefferard was arrested Saturday night at Gateway Village. Police believe Gefferard attacked another man with a hatchet at the Cato Lane apartments shortly before midnight Thursday.

A Colon motorcyclist was injured after the two-wheeler she was driving ran into the back of a vehicle over the weekend in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Lora Waffle, 43, was riding westbound on Colon Road when her motorcycle struck the rear of a vehicle driven by 80-year-old Leonard Burnham of Mendon. The incident occurred near …

The name of a man who drowned early Sunday in the St. Joseph River has been released by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The body of Tommy McDonald, 65, was found around 6 p.m. Monday by a resident who lives about two miles from the location where McDonald fell into the river. Sheriff’s officials said McDonald was fishing with …