Josephine Joy “Jo” Shannon, 81, of Leonidas, and formerly of Battle Creek, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at her home. Jo was born Sept. 8, 1932, in Muddy, Ill., a daughter of Hobart A. and Julia A. (Long) Foster. Jo worked at Clark Equipment Company for a few years and at Bailey Park taking tickets, but mostly worked for …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said he will take over as chief of police later this year. Members of the Constantine Village Council agreed to the arrangement Monday, as current chief Jim Bedell is retiring in May. Honeysett, 58, said he will work under a two-year contract as chief while continuing to serve as village manager. His salary will be …

The November unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.2 percent November unemployment rate was more than October’s 7.8 percent. November’s unemployment figure was 1.3 percent less than the same month a year …

Approximately 100 people gathered in downtown Three Rivers Sunday to participate in a flash mob-style video shoot, led by the city’s Downtown Development Authority. DDA director Christy Trammell said the authority has applied to participate in the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street Program. Adhering to the theme, “T.R. is All in this Together,” representatives from various organizations, Three …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the second consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2014. The meeting had been postponed one week due to inclement weather Jan. 7. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 16th year on …

A mail carrier has been charged with deserting her job after hundreds of pieces of mail were left on Detroit streets before Christmas. Agents who interviewed Anntina Thigpen say she felt overwhelmed a few weeks before Christmas. Postal Service employees on Dec. 17 began recovering mail on Appoline Street in Detroit. The discoveries lasted for days as snow melted. There …

Students at White Pigeon Middle/High School were dismissed for the day at 11:30 a.m. Monday after a gas leak was reported by a faculty member. Superintendent Ron Drzewicki said the odor was brought to his attention around 10 a.m. Drzewicki said he called SEMCO energy after it was determined the source of the smell was from the school’s boiler room. …

Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo recently announced that it is limiting visitor access as a precaution against spreading the flu. The Michigan Department of Community Health has been warning about a rise in reported flu cases, including some severe cases of H1N1 that have left patients on life support. Borgess now says that visitors other than siblings have to be 12 …

Last week was sort of a flashback to 1978. I was working at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, and was living in Schaumburg at the time. The airport was closed, and I couldn’t get out of my subdivision anyway. It was a memorable experience, and one I didn’t care to experience anytime in the future. Last week was another one of …

My name is Shadow and I was a Pet of the Week back in September. I was a little kitten at that time. Now, I am a beautiful, silky black cat, still waiting for a good home. I am a male with short, black fur, about 9 months old now. I love to be with people and play with toys. …