Local law-enforcement agencies are looking for a red, small-size pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run incident last week in Park Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a 23-year-old Portage woman was driving south on U.S. 131 Thursday when the vehicle in front of her lost control and spun out south of Michigan Avenue. The vehicle driven by the …

Robert Lee Bidelman, Jr., age 56, of Constantine, passed away March 4th, 2014. He born in Denver, Colorado on August 23, 1957, a son of Mary Jane (Allen) and Robert Lee Bidelman Sr. He worked as a plumber at Pace Industries. Surviving are his father Robert (Carol) Bidelman, daughter Heather Bidelman, brother Al Bidelman, half sisters Diane and Deb Wise, …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting the third death in the tri-county area this season due to complications from influenza. This is the second death of a St. Joseph County resident, though the death of the elderly man occurred in an out-of-county facility. In each of the three cases, there were underlying conditions that may have been the …

A county parks system featuring larger parcels with greater, natural-resource-based recreational opportunities was identified as a major component of the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department newly developed master plan. John Pence, director of the agency, presented a summary of the five-year plan to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. He said instead of operating …

A Constantine woman was treated for injuries she received Monday following a two-vehicle accident in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said 33-year-old Maylynn Kitchen of Constantine was driving south on U.S. 131 when her vehicle was struck by a car eastbound on M-60. Investigators said Megan Belew, a 33-year-old Delton resident, failed to yield the right of …

Rufus Dayton Hubbard passed away peacefully at his home on March 3, 2014. He and his late wife Allene, were the founding owners of Corey Lake Orchards. “Dayton” as he was known to his family and friends was born May 15, 1930, in Floyd County, Virginia. He graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1947 and attended Virginia Tech, from which …

Patricia Rae Gray, age 71, of Sherwood, died Sunday, March 2, 2014 at her home. She was born in Goshen, IN on Oct. 30, 1942 the daughter of Charles and Naomi (Trine) Richards, and later attended Schoolcraft High School. Patricia recently retired from T-H Plastics in Mendon. She loved her family, animals, crocheting, flower gardening and hunting. Patricia is survived …

Eleanor “Taffy” June (Weiss) Paul, age 70, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Sunday afternoon, March 2, 2014 at home surrounded by family and friends. She was born May 30, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois daughter of the late Fred and Dorothy (Lewis) Weiss. Taffy resided in Sturgis since 1978 coming from Jenison, Michigan. On March 17, 1967 she married Harry …

Joyce D. Smith, 62, of Sturgis, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 12, 1951, in Goshen, Ind., to Melvin and Velma (Marchant) Beardsley. She was a resident of the Sturgis area for the past 26 years, coming from White Pigeon. She had been employed at Kirsch Company …

Ivan A. Stuckey, age 92, of Burr Oak, went to be with the Lord on Saturday morning March 1, 2014, at Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born May 15, 1921 in Archbold, Ohio, a son of the late Aaron and Sarah (Eicher) Stuckey. Ivan resided in Burr Oak for the past 49 years after moving from …