Two area residents were involved in a car crash Monday in Lockport Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Carol Sission, 77, of Constantine, was southbound on U.S. 131 when she failed to stop at the traffic signal at Wilbur Road. Her vehicle struck a car driven by 29-year-old Colon resident Amber Laclair, who had the right of way …

A St. Joseph County resident avoided being the victim of a telephone-solicitation scam Tuesday. The resident received on their home phone a call from someone claiming to represent a company called YHG. The suspect indicated they would be sending new Medicare cards and just needed the potential victim’s name, address and account number off of a checking account belonging to …

Organizers of the 2013 Three Rivers Water Festival are promoting a new addition to the annual event. A backyard barbecue competition, sponsored by Kackies Que and Century Bank and Trust, will take place 2 to 9 p.m. June 14 in the Community Tent area at the back of Scidmore Park. An entry fee of $55 will include fees, awards, prize …

Harrison “Harry” Phillip Vischer Jr., age 84, passed away suddenly at his home in Leonidas, MI on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, Washington Twp., on October 13, 1928 the son of Mr. Harrison Phillip Sr. and Hazel May (Patterson) Vischer. Mr. Vischer was a long time Lenawee County resident and had recently moved to Southwestern …

Deodon Richard “Cy” Curtis, age 83, of Three Rivers died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 surrounded by his family. He was born in Valparaiso, IN on May 5, 1930 the son of Howard and Nora (Olds) Curtis. He grew up in the Mottville-Sturgis area and attended White Pigeon Schools. After high school he joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea. …

Beverly June Garnett, age 95, of Three Rivers, formerly of Chesterton and Michigan City, Ind., died at Fairview Nursing Home on Friday, May 10, 2013,  following a lengthy illness. She was born in Three Rivers, daughter of Walter A. and Madge E. (Erway) Sass. Mrs. Garnett graduated from Centreville High School with the class of 1934. She also attended Gary …

Richard L. Earl Sr., age 75, of Sturgis, passed away Monday afternoon, May 13, 2013, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Feb. 10, 1938, in Three Rivers, a son of the late Rex and Avis (Chamberlain) Earl. Rich resided in the Sturgis, Constantine and Three Rivers area his entire life, and was a graduate of Three Rivers …

Ione Charlotte (Meyer) Mestelle, age 90, was walked home to Jesus surrounded by her family on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Feb. 10, 1923, in Eagle Point, Wis., to George and Dagmar Meyer. She graduated in 1941 from Park Falls High School in Wisconsin and from Eau Claire Beauty Academy in 1943. On Nov. 20, 1944, …

Nine custodial jobs with Sturgis Public Schools will be outsourced to a Holland-based company, following action by the district’s board of education Monday. The nine employees will have an opportunity to join Enviro-Clean, which will cost the district about $500,000 next year. The current contract with district-employed custodians is in excess of $700,000, district officials said. The new contract, which …

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and three other law-enforcement agencies have agreed to look into the unsolved homicide of Ada Haradine, an Elkhart resident. Haradine disappeared from her home in May 1985 and was reported missing by her family that day and investigated by Elkhart Police. Her remains were found three years later in the Cass County community of Union. …