The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.9 percent January unemployment rate was equal to December’s figure. January’s unemployment rate was 1.7 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was …

Gary Lynn Gales, age 51 of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, March 23, 2014 at his home. He was born Sept. 9, 1962, in Malden, Mo., a son of the late Charles Lloyd and Mary Christine (Kellum) Gales. Gary resided most of his life in the Leonidas area. On Dec. 28, 1990, he married Alana Hennessee in St. Joseph. …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has announced tickets for its Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year banquet went on sale Monday. The tickets are $20 each and will not be available at the door, where Jerry Wright will be honored at a 6:30 p.m. dinner April 22 at Belle Époque. Tickets are being sold at Ridgeway Floral in Three …

Upgrades in the booking and intercom systems at the county jail were approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The five-member board authorized a $178,000 quote from Midstate Jail Security, one of three bidders for the project. Sheriff’s department officials said the current intercom/speaker system is outdated and spare parts are too difficult – and in …

The Three Rivers City Commission last week passed an ordinance related to sidewalk snow removal. The ordinance calls for the owner of a building or lot adjacent to a paved sidewalk to clear the sidewalk within 72 hours of a measureable snowfall. In addition, the ordinance requires sand or an abrasive to be applied if snow is too hard or …

Frances Emma Shively, age 93, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at the Bowman House where she resided. She was born on March 15, 1921 in Three Rivers the daughter of the late Elmer E. and Emma C. (White) Brown. Mrs. Shively attended school both in Beloit, WI., and Three Rivers where she graduated. On …

Jack D. Rupert, age 80, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday evening, March 22, 2014, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born Nov. 30, 1933, in Delphos, Ohio, son of the late Cloyd and Madeline (Holden) Rupert. Jack resided in Sturgis since 1967 coming from Detroit. On Oct. 1, 1951, he married Julie Coleman in Detroit. He was …

Carry F. “Duffy” Dearduff, age 68, of Howe, Ind., passed away Friday, March 21, 2014, at his home. He was born June 22, 1945 in Muncie, Ind., a son to the late Carry and Golden Jewel (Mays) Dearduff. Carry had lived most of his life in Howe, Ind., and had been employed by the Harter Corp. for 20 years and …

The victim in a semi/freight-train collision last week has been identified by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Bobby Abell, 77, of Quincy, Ill., was the driver of a southbound semi that collided with an eastbound freight train consisting of an engine and two rail cars. The incident occurred Thursday evening at the railroad crossing on U.S. 131 in Mottville …

Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson has announced he is resigning from the position later this summer. In a prepared statement, Tomlinson said he will step down around Aug. 1, but a firm date will be set once a replacement has been hired and adequately trained. Tomlinson, who has spent nearly 30 years in the industry, said philosophical differences over …