A state administrative judge has sided with about half of 30 people with disabilities who said their services were illegally cut by the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The clients, who were represented by Farmington Hills-based attorney Patricia Dudek, said 25 percent, across-the-board cuts by the Centreville-based agency in January were unfairly and illegally …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has cancelled its no-contact advisory for the St. Joseph River between the sanitary river crossing at Broadway Street in Three Rivers to the Constantine Dam in Constantine. The department last week issued a no-contact health advisory due to a sewage discharge. As the situation was finally under control later in the week, water-quality samples …

Officers from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a home invasion that occurred last week in Park Township. Investigators said access was gained Thursday to a residence in the 54000 block of Wilbur Road through an unlocked door. Prescription medications, coins and a large amount of jewelry were stolen from the residence.

A variety of farm items were stolen last week from a Fabius Township location. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday investigated the theft of items from the 11600 block of M-60. The victim told police the items were likely stolen either Wednesday or Thursday last week. Among the items taken: a Kohler mower with a 60 inch deck, …

A Three Rivers native is one of seven people reportedly killed in a cargo plane crash in Afghanistan Monday. The Associated Press has reported First Officer Jamie Brokaw, a 1998 Three Rivers High School graduate, died along with six other Michigan residents and a passenger from Kentucky. The accident site was reportedly within the perimeter of the Bagram Air Base, …

The trial is underway for the second of two men accused of murdering a 74-year-old Kalamazoo antiques dealer last summer.  52-year old John Aguilar faces charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, assault with intent to rob and home invasion in the August 2012 death of Robert Medema.  Aguilar and 21-year-old Antonio Livingston were accused of forcing their way into Medema’s …

Patricia “Patty” Ann Steffey, age 51, of Three Rivers passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Three Rivers, MI., on October 22, 1961 the daughter of Richard Elwyn and Marilyn Georgia(Spence) Grosskunze. Patty was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers graduating with the class of 1979. On March 16, …

James C. West, age 63, of Colon, passed away Sunday evening, April 28, 2013 at his home. James was born May 13, 1949, in Colon, a son of Arthur and Nancy (Murphy) West. James grew up in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1967. He continued his education at Michigan State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree …

Richard D. (Dick) Carter, age 74, of Constantine, passed away Saturday, April 27th, 2013 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born in a farmhouse in Cass County on January 31, 1939, a son of Lazelle and Grace (Kantz) Carter. Dick graduated from Constantine High School in 1957 and served in the US Air Force for four years. …

Lorene B. Dane, 90, of Three Rivers went to the Lord Sunday April 28, 2013 with family at her bedside. Lorene was born on June 28, 1922 in Hamill, South Dakota. She was the daughter of the late Raymond and Jenny (Imboden) Savage. Lorene started her schooling in Hamill, South Dakota and finished in Centreville, Michigan, while working at the …