Twenty-six people were recognized Tuesday for milestone years of service as St. Joseph County employees. Members of the county commission and county administrator Teresa Doehring acknowledged those who attended the annual recognition. The roster featured eight 10-year employees; 10 people who have worked 15 years each; and a quartet for two decades of employment. Jim Jacobs, family division caseworker; Kole …

An exception to its hiring freeze was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite was granted approval to hire a corrections deputy. The vacancy was created with the retirement of Paul Martin. In a memo to commissioners, Lillywhite indicated the position has been vacant since late September and Martin’s retirement makes the corrections department …

St. Joseph County is changing the way payment is distributed for jury-duty service. Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement with Rapid Financial Solutions, which is behind a process that provides debit cards instead of a mailed check for people who serve as jurors. County clerk Lindsay Oswald said the agreement with the Utah-based company amounts to 49 cents per payment …

A Lockport Township resident was honored for his longevity on an obscure but important county board. St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution saluting Jim Wetherbee and his 22 years as a member of the county’s Board of Canvassers. Wetherbee, a former teacher and principal, is a member of the Centreville Lions Club. The resolution states …

Patrick A. Horton, age 74, of Constantine, passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo He was born in Plympton, England on March 26, 1945, a son of Albert and Annetta (Weeks) Ballentine. He attended school in Kalamazoo and graduated from Three Rivers High School. On December 23, 1966, he married Nancy M. Thibos in Three …

Joyce Irene Thrams, age 82, of Colon passed away unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, at her home. Joyce was born May 18, 1937, in Parchment, a daughter of the late Harry and Irene (Bush) Heath. She had lived most of her life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1955. On July 19, 1956, she married …

LaDonna Irene Peterson, age 53, of Middlebury, and a former Sturgis resident, passed away Sunday morning, Oct.13, 2019, at Goshen Hospital. She was born July 31,1966, in Duluth, Minn., a daughter of the late Ivan and Irene (Bjork) Hunter. LaDonna had resided in Middlebury for the past eight years, coming from Sturgis. On Jan. 7, 2000, she married Dallas Peterson …

Phyllis Ann Fennell, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, Oct. 11, 2019, at Thurston Woods Villa in Sturgis. She was born March 26, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Ellsworth “Mae” and Harriett (Tucker) Combs. Phyllis was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1946. On May …

Robert Everett Weaver, age 81, of Mendon, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Oct. 14th, 2019. Robert was born on May 27th, 1938 in Delton, MI., the son of the late Merle and Bessie (Henry) Weaver. Bob worked as a Millwright and in his later years in maintenance for Lear Corporation of Mendon for thirty-three years. …

Hattie O. Brown, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Oct. 14, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born May 8, 1950, in West Virginia, daughter of the late Roy and Lucille (Hester) Pulliam. Hattie resided in Sturgis for the past 15 years, coming from Detroit. She had been employed by Salvation Army and she enjoyed cooking, gardening …