I mentioned last week how difficult it is, at times, to get together with family. My siblings and I have been working since last February to set a date to celebrate my one sister’s eightieth birthday. Either she was out of town, I had other commitments, or the weather was not suitable for traveling. At first we were going to …

(July 3, 2013) — Animal Rescue Fund, a St. Joseph County-based animal welfare organization, is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for abandoning a puppy in a box in Burr Oak, Mich. The Case: The Animal Rescue Fund gives the following account: On Tuesday, …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk is advising citizens that the public access at Prairie Lake in Sherman Township is open and the no-wake restriction has been lifted. According to a department press release, the lake’s water level has rescinded and, as a result, reduced the likelihood of damage to property. The restrictions had been in place since Tuesday last …

Here’s a reminder that a golf outing to benefit fundraiser for a Three Rivers police officer takes place Wednesday. Staged in honor of T.J. Baker, a past “Investigator of the Year” recipient by county prosecutor John McDonough, the event will take place at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville. Though rosters are full for the event, organizers are asking the …

The Constantine Fire Department has four newly certified firefighters. Three firefighters, John Hofmeister, Blake Piper and Chris Huddleston, completed the 2013 St Joseph County Fire Academy in June and were presented last week with Firefighter I and II certificates from the Michigan Firefighters Training Council. Also completing a Firefighter II course at Edwardsburg Fire Department and receiving his Firefighter II …

William Henry Yoder, age 87, of Burr Oak, Michigan passed away early Sunday afternoon, July 7, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born September 29, 1925 in Millersburg, Indiana son of the late Samuel and Nancy (Weirich) Yoder. Bill resided in Burr Oak since 1955. His early life was lived in Shipshewana, Indiana. On April 21, …

William F. Gibson, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, July 8, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born May 28, 1922, in Coldwater, a son of the late Frank and Rosetta (Byers) Gibson. Mr. Gibson resided in Sturgis for more than 60 years. On Sept. 7, 1940, he married Mabel J. Granger in Bryan, Ohio. …

Brenda Joyce Dingwitz, age 71, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Saturday evening July 6, 2013 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born September 2, 1941 in Hillsdale, Michigan daughter of the late Richard and Lila (Lyons) Gemmill. Brenda resided in Sturgis since 1961 coming from Hillsdale. On November 3, 1961 she married John Harold Dingwitz in Georgia. Brenda …

Ronald Henry Greenberg, Jr., age 73, of Centreville, passed away Sunday, July 7th, 2013 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers on August 7, 1939, the son of Ronald H. and Elnora (Gilbert) Greenberg Sr.  Ron graduated from Centreville High School in 1957 and attended junior college in California studying engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves …

Diana Lee Kemp, 68, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, Ind., following a brief illness. She was born June 16, 1945, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Edward and Juanita Garn. She had been a resident of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. On July 2, 1966, she married Monroe Kemp Jr. in Constantine. They were later …