A Colon business that sustained smoke and water damage following a March fire has reopened. Five Star Pizza owners Carl and Annette Thornton said the eatery opened Friday after recovering from the fire that started next door at Curly’s. Unlike Curly’s and a real estate office to its west, Five Star was not deemed a total loss but required an …

A lifelong Centreville resident was named the village’s Citizen of the Year. Wendy Parker was announced last week as the recipient of the annual honor. Parker is a former village council member and was recognized by village president Jeff Johnson for her commitment to organizing the village’s Memorial Day parade and ceremony over the past 11 years. A 1983 graduate …

The April unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by nearly half 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 6.9 percent April unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percent less than the 7.3 percent rate in March. Furthermore, the April unemployment rate was …

The Associated Press is reporting that White Pigeon’s police chief and a village police sergeant were drunk af­ter the car in which they were riding rolled off a Branch County road last month. Chief Lynn “Dutch” Baker and Sgt. William Burgoyne reportedly both had blood- alcohol contents of 0.13 percent after the April 12 inci­dent in Sherwood Town­ship. A Michigan …

Ziyan Traezon McGairty, age 1 year, 3 months, 12 days, died unexpectedly Saturday morning May 25, 2013, at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born Feb. 13, 2012, a son of Trae and Shanda (Ramirez) McGairty. Ziyan enjoyed being outside, spending time with his brothers and sisters and he loved to dance. Surviving are parents; three brothers, Trey Landon …

David H. Carr, age 67, of Burlington, and formerly of Sherwood, passed away May 24, 2013. There will be no visitation. A graveside committal service and burial of ashes will take place Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Athens. The family was assisted by the Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon.

Carole Lee Tooker, 73, of Goshen, passed away at her home early Saturday morning, May 25, 2013. She had been ill since September 2012. She was born December 8, 1939 in LaGrange. She married John F. Tooker, October 22, 1976 in Sturgis, Michigan. He survives along with a daughter, Cathy S. (Barnell) Murr of Goshen; two grandchildren, K.J. Murr of …

Mable Francis Arnold, age 91, of Suffolk, Virginia, formerly of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 24, 2013 at Autumn Care Nursing Home. She was born in Stone Lake, WI., on June 7, 1921 the daughter of William Henry and Alice Ann (Strong) Camp. Mrs. Arnold and her late husband founded and operated …

Barbara Makowski-Meersma, age 71, of Three Rivers, formerly of Detroit, MI. passed away on Friday, May 24, 2013 at Bronson Hospital following a courageous battle with A.L.S. She was born in Detroit on March 22, 1942 the daughter of Joseph and Jeanette (Dudzinski) Braschayko. Barbara has been a resident of the Schoolcraft and Three Rivers area for 45 years. She …

William Peterson, age 63, Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, May 25th, 2013. Bill was born in Three Rivers, on October 8, 1949, a son of George and Christine (Jansen) Peterson. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1968. On December 30, 1977 Bill married Lynelle Reed at the Florence Church of the Brethren in Constantine. He worked at Markline Industries, …