Melody Lynn Ruggles, age 43, of Three Rivers went to be with her Lord Wednesday, August 20, 2014. She left from her home with her loving family by her side after a courageous battle with colorectal cancer . She was born in Berwyn, IL on July 24, 1971, the daughter of Oren and Marilyn(Allen)Shoemaker. Melody graduated from Three Rivers High …

Mae D. Willings, age 81, of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.  She was born in Oakman Co., Alabama on November 19, 1932, a daughter of Cranford and Mandy (Davis) Smith. Mae worked at Yukon Delta in Elkhart in the 1970’s. On June 10, 1950 she married Walter F. Willings in Columbus, MS. He …

Ron Drzewicki’s employment as superintendent of Mason Public Schools is official, as the district’s board of education voted this week to offer a contract. The 50-year-old Drzewicki has served the past six years as superintendent of White Pigeon Community Schools. He was one of 23 applicants for the job as head of the 3,100-student district 15 miles south of Lansing. …

A new director for the St. Joseph County Conservation District was named this week. The employment of Carolyn Grace, a Three Rivers resident and former teacher at Hoppin Elementary, was approved by the conservation district board Wednesday. Grace, 50, has a degree in environmental education. She previously was employed as program director at YMCA Camp Eberhard following a 20-year career in …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved filling the position of Geographic Information System cartographer. The opening was created by virtue of a resignation. In another matter during Tuesday’s meeting, the five-member panel approved the hiring of a probation officer, as Jon Marcus has announced his resignation effective Aug. 29. The position pays $38,000 and it is to be …

Keeping with a successful formula, the Kalamazoo Wings will have a duel National Hockey League affiliation for the 2014-15 season. The K-Wings renewed their affiliation agreement with the Vancouver Canucks and have entered a new two-year agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets. These agreements mark the fifth time in the past six seasons the K-Wings will have a dual affiliation. …

Dennis L. Hill, 68, of White Pigeon, Mich., died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers, Mich.There will be a small gathering of friend and family at a later date.

The Deer Forest Exotic Animal Sanctuary in southwest Michigan is closing at the end of this season. The announcement was made Tuesday morning, a day after an arrest warrant was issued in Illinois for Jon Stolarz, one of the park’s operators for failing to appear in court in that state in an animal cruelty case.  He and his wife blame …

  HI! My name is Patsy and I am a female tri-color beagle who has already been spayed. I’m about one year old and am a very sweet little girl. I’m not very big – about 23 pounds – so I can fit in with your family very nicely. Being here makes me pretty stressed out so I would like …

  The courts building of the St. Joseph County Courthouse will soon receive attention in hopes of a remedy from perpetual humidity. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday agreed to a $13,000 expense for the architect and engineer firm Tower Pinkster. A separate arrangement for $2,300 was reached with HVAC contractor C.L. Mahoney Co. of Kalamazoo …