Samuel James Hubbard, Jr. passed away on Monday, November 17, 2014 at Bronson Methodist Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born March 15, 1945 in Chicago IL, to Samuel and Dorothea Hubbard to that union, one sister. Samuel married the love of his life, Doris White on October 13, 1983 they built a life together filled with love, raising …

Nearly 1,400 new direct and indirect jobs, and more than $37 million in new investment were a few of the economic benefits provided to St. Joseph County through Southwest Michigan First in 2014. The highlights, detailed during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, were presented by Ken Jones of Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First. Through the first 11 months …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said charges will not be authorized against a pair of Three Rivers Police officers involved in a conflict in September. Fitz was dealt the case due to a conflict of interest because the people involved are law-enforcement officers. The two were a part of a dispute that unfolded Sept. 29 outside a residence in rural …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners agreed to extension services provided by Michigan State University for 2015. Reached during Tuesday’s commission meeting, the agreement calls for the funding of one full-time extension educator and two part-time 4-H program coordinators. The services will cost the county more than $118,000. In an unrelated matter, Three Rivers resident Lee Zimmerman was appointed to …

The University of Michigan has fired head football coach Brady Hoke after four seasons. Hoke posted a 31-20 record at Michigan, but never improved on an 11-2 mark and Sugar Bowl title in his first season with the Wolverines. They went 5-7 overall this season, including 3-5 in the Big Ten, marking the program’s first losing season since going 5-7 …

Hazel Idell (Atwater) Currier passed away at Miller’s Merry Manor in Wakarusa, Ind., on Nov. 25, 2014, after a brief illness. A memorial service will take place this summer. Hazel was the second daughter of Grace and Duane Atwater. She spent most of her life near the Michigan-Indiana border. She grew up on a farm in White Pigeon, where she …

A state House committee has heard from people who say they worry about the health effects of radiation from smart meters that utilities use to measure consumption.  Rochester Hills Republican Rep. Tom McMillin chairs the House Oversight Committee and led Tuesday’s hearing.  Michigan utilities are installing smart meters as a way to make it easier to measure customers’ use.  The …

Gertrude Phoebe Reed, age 100, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2014 surrounded by her family at the Sunshine Care Home. She was born on May 8, 1914 in Akron, NY the daughter of Harry and Melvina(Mayne)Bluck. Gertrude graduated from Akron High School, attended Syracuse University, and graduated from the University of Michigan . Before her marriage …

Diana Lee Westphal, age 64, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2014 surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on October 30, 1950 in Three Rivers, MI the daughter of Charles and Mary(Abrams)Hughey. Diana has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Diana was a devout Christian and member of …

If you are one of those who made New Year’s resolutions twelve months ago, you have less than a month to hold on to them. Congratulations to those of you who held on to those convictions. If you lost the weight you resolved to do, or if you paid more attention to your family and less attention to those things …