The state Senate has approved the immediate spending of 100-million dollars for “special winter road maintenance” funds. The vote follows concerns from local road commissions who say they’ve already spent most or all of their winter budgets. Not everyone is ready to back the amount of spending however. Both the governor and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville were non committal …

Thomas “Tommy” Ray Oswalt III, age 17, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 19th, 2014. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI. on October 3, 1996 the son of Thomas Ray Oswalt II and Michele Marie (Kelley) LaPlant. Tommy has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He attended Three Rivers Schools where he was very active in …

Nancy D. Earl-Johansen, 75, of Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 17, 2014 at Kindred Hospital in Mishawaka, Ind. Born May 12, 1938 in Three Rivers, daughter to the late George and Helen (Beebe) Baker. From June of 1958 to April of 1975 she was married to Richard L. Earl Sr. and they created two children, Rick and Kathy. In July of …

Brent A. Walters, age 57, of Battle Creek, passed away unexpectedly Feb. 13, 2014, at his home. He was born May 13, 1956, in Sturgis, a son of the late LaVerne and Shirley (Kunce) Walters. Brent graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1974. He also attended Glenn Oak Community College and was a veteran of the U.S. …

William K. Grant, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, Feb. 18, 2014, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. He was born Jan. 16, 1960 in LaGrange, Ind., a son of William and Joyce (Ehret) Grant. Bill resided in the Sturgis and Elkhart, Ind., area his whole life and was a member of Sturgis High School class …

Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson has issued a special warning for people who own buildings with flat roofs. The existing snow-load and the forecasted rainfall should be of immediate concern for residential, commercial and industrial buildings with flat roofs. The combined accumulation of these loads could exceed the structural stability of the roof system, and could result in a …

Heavy snow has taken its toll on a Cass County building. The roof at Bair Lake Bible Camp in Jones collapsed late Sunday due to the immense weight of snow that had accumulated. No one was injured, said Nanci Tissot, Bair Lake’s director of marketing. Tissot said the collapse of the roof over the dining hall came with no warning. …

A consultant hired to assess St. Joseph County’s animal-control facility suggested the current building could be gutted and reconfigured instead of constructing a new building. St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board Chair Bev Levett and member Suzanne Lee told panel members Wednesday that engineer Scott Learned made the observation during his Feb. 6, half-day tour of the county-owned building. …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a new position at the sheriff’s department, where a diversion program is expected to better meet the needs of people requiring mental-health service evaluations. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved the position of director of assessment. The specialist’s salary will come out of a $350,000 grant administered by the state to the …

Ray Lee Herschleb, age 76, of Three Rivers died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 23, 1937 the son of the late Albert M. and Naomi B. (Euler) Herschleb. He graduated from Three Rivers High School and attended Western Michigan University. Ray served in the U.S. Navy …