Dennis Allen will continue to serve as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for a second consecutive year. During Wednesday’s commission meeting, Allen was nominated and unanimously approved to fill the seat as head of the five-member board. Commissioners also agreed on Allen Balog to serve as vice-chair. Allen, a Centreville resident who represents Lockport, Nottawa, Florence …

Rick Snyder, in the final days of his role as Michigan governor, signed a supplemental appropriations bill that included $3.4 million in capital-outlay funding for Glen Oaks Community College. The funding requires a 50/50 institution match. Glen Oaks President David Devier said the funds will enable the school to begin planning for what work will be completed as a result …

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation recently completed its 2018 competitive grant program with the issuance of nearly $60,000 returned to the community. Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services received $2,000 to assist with the “Domestic Violence in the Workplace” project. Meanwhile, Sturgis Historical Society and its “Windows to our Past” films project, was given $24,900. The St. Joseph County Intermediate School …

I am looking for a new family.  They call me “Katie”, and I am one year old.  I purr whenever you pet me and I love to cuddle in your arms.  I am a bit rolly-polly and I will need my spay surgery.  I hope you will come see me January 2 or any weekday after that.  My docket number …

Elizabeth J. Morris, age 74, of Mendon, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 at her home. She was born in Frankfort, IN on March 29, 1944 the daughter of Nicholas T. and Helen L. (Phillip) Dirbas. After graduation from Frankfort High School in 1962 she attended Beauty School in Lafayette. Elizabeth was married to Wayne R. Morris on April 20, 1968 …

Milton Bruce Harvey, age 77 of Fulton, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 at Medilodge of Portage. He was born in Detroit on Nov. 13, 1941 the son of Milton Albert and Frieda Elizabeth (Scatlos) Harvey. He graduated from Detroit Pershing High School and later from Michigan State University. Bruce was employed at Simpson-Lee and later Fox River Paper Company in …

Daniel E. Holst, age 91, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday afternoon, Dec. 30, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Versailles, Missouri, son of the late Harley E. and Nellie (Connor) Holst. Dan resided in the Sturgis area since 1947 coming from Fayette, Missouri and moved to Burr Oak in 1960. On …

Karalyn S. Wilbur, 51, of Sturgis, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital, following a brief illness. Vistiation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan 4, 2019, at Farrand Funeral Home In White Pigeon. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in White Pigeon Township Cemetery.

Fourteen people took advantage of the 11th annual New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home program over a six-hour period ending at 4 a.m. Tuesday. Offered by the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority in conjunction with more than a dozen business sponsors, Free Ride Home saw 11 passengers picked up by the Three Rivers-based bus and three passengers boarded the Sturgis-based …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education recently approved retroactive pay raises of 2 percent, plus step increases, for non-instructional, non-certified and non- bargaining personnel in the district. Similar increases for instructional staff were approved in June. The increases approved recently were being considered in June as well, but unexpected expenses related to the district’s health insurance plan put the situation on …