The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week gave approval to fill a few open positions. A candidate for the job of deputy probate register will be pursued, as it was vacated due to the retirement of Bonnie Walter. Her last day of work was Friday. The vacant position of juvenile neglect/abuse specialist, which has been open for a …

Authorities say a Vicksburg man has died following a weekend snowmobile crash in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. 31-year-old Jeffery Wright died Saturday after the crash in Wexford County’s Clam Lake Township. Investigators say he lost control, and went off a trail and down an embankment before hitting trees. The crash happened about 35 miles southeast of Traverse City. (AP)

The city of Three Rivers is making an appeal to the public for help in filling vacancies on a variety of commissions and boards. City officials said the Three Rivers planning commission, River Country Recreational Authority, local officers compensation commission, board of appeals, industrial development authority, brownfield redevelopment authority and board of review are all in need of one additional …

Colon resident Ron Carnell has announced the village will be the site of the 45th annual Michigan Magic Day in April. The International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 386 in Colon will host the two-day gathering April 11 and 12, the first time the community will have hosted the annual event. Carnell said around 150 magicians from around the Midwest are …

Customers and others are rallying behind a northern Indiana supermarket where a gunman killed a customer and an employee before police fatally shot him. About 300 people gathered for a prayer vigil Saturday night in front of the Martin’s Super Market in Elkhart where the shootings occurred. Customer Adam Bujalski tells The Elkhart Truth that it’s important for him that …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed the catch of a new state record flathead catfish last week in Cass County. The catfish was caught Jan. 12 by Niles resident Dale Blakley on Barron Lake. It weighed 52 pounds and measured 46 inches. Blakley told DNR officials he was ice fishing for crappies when he landed the catch. The record …

Ardith Smoll, age 95, of Sturgis passed away Friday, January 17th, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born in Sturgis, on November 9, 1918, a daughter of William and Grace (Rost) Young. Ardith graduated from Sturgis High School in 1936. On September 5, 1937 she married Estel R. Smoll in Sturgis. He preceded her in death July 27, 1976. …

Kenneth Leroy Staffen, age 79, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 17, 2014 at Three Rivers Health following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on Oct. 7, 1934 in Schoolcraft, MI., the son of Clive and Mildred (Barber) Staffen. Mr. Staffen has been a life time resident of Three Rivers. He served his country in …

Lloyd L. “Louie” Hart, age 83, of Mendon died Saturday Jan. 18, 2014 at his home following a brief illness. He was born near Colon, MI on July 30, 1930 the son of Cecil and Minnie (Broker) Hart. Lloyd served stateside with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After returning home he was married to Maxine Williams on July …

Martha A. Krautwurst, 90, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 at the Heartland Health Care Center surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Aug. 28, 1923 in Weisenfelde, Germany, the daughter of the late Daniel and Bronislawa (Stettinow) Komm. Mrs. Krautwurst was united in marriage to the late Alexander Krautwurst on March 2, 1950 …