Janice Marie (Weitting) Keeslar, 69, passed on early Thursday morning, April 18, 2013, surrounded by her loving and devoted children. She was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and the beloved daughter of the late Lawrence and Charlotte (Dunham) Weitting. Janice was a dedicated caseworker for the Family Independence Agency and especially enjoyed working with the elderly. She retired at age …

Ella Ruth Kelley, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born May 18, 1924, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of the late Willis and Minnie (Wierich) Stahl. Ruth resided in the LaGrange and Sturgis area nearly her whole life and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Alice’s life began on Feb. 12, 1954, in Chicago, a daughter of Donald M. and Mary Jane (Stockwell) Symonds Sr. She was a gifted and extreme artist, starting with attending classes at the age of 11 or 12 at the Chicago Art Institute. She was a gifted seamstress, making clothes for her children, herself and her family. Alice used her …

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a request for a new supervisor position at Central Dispatch, as sought by its director, Jon Uribe. Uribe on Tuesday explained the new position is for the day shift, which has been operating without a supervisor. He said the measure would create an additional position, but a current telecommunicator …

A 54-year-old Edwardsburg man was found guilty last week of 14 criminal counts. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the case against Scott Blaisedell stems from a February 2012 incident, when detectives from the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at Blaisedell’s residence. In the course of the search, detectives found throughout the home and the garage …

Investigators have ruled a house fire last week in Constantine was started by accident. The April 11 blaze at 570 S. Washington St. in Constantine has been ruled accidental, as its source was found to be an 11-year-old occupant playing with a lighter. The fire began around 7 p.m. in a first-floor bedroom and quickly spread to an upper- level …

John Warner Minor Jr., 61, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2013, at his home surrounded by his family. A graveside service will be held on at 1 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2013, at Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak Township. Funeral arrangements are being cared for by Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson. John was born Aug. 6, …

Douglas Walter Brundige, age 76, of Three Rivers passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2013 at Three Rivers Health. Doug was born in Three Rivers, MI on August 31, 1936 the son of Howard W. and Dorothy(Walters)Brundige. Doug was resident of the Three Rivers Community, graduated from TRHS class of 1954, a businessman and property owner, and spent his lifetime …

Good day! My name is Kermit and I am an 8 month old male tabby. My family is moving and brought me here to hopefully find a new, loving home. I am very affectionate and like to be held. I will purr when you love me. The ladies say I have a very pretty face and cute, tufted ears. I …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday authorized $11,000 toward the purchase of nine iPads. Five officials from the prosecutor’s office and four representatives from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit will receive an iPad for business use. Prosecutor John McDonough said the devices will be used as a part of undercover investigations, general and trial …