Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited St. Joseph County Monday, making stops in Three Rivers and Sturgis. In Sturgis, Whitmer presented “The Road to Opportunity,” a briefing on her fiscal year 2020 budget proposal. More than 20 community members attended the closed-session event at Sturgis Library. Whitmer said she presented her budget to the legislature last week and now she’s traveling around …

State police troopers are investigating damage to a business in Park Township. According to a department media release, a split-rail fence outside a business in the 52000 block of U.S. 131 was damaged between noon Saturday and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. The wood fence, which stood outside Stephenson Farm and Market, was damaged by a southbound vehicle that appears to have …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has introduced a measure to update and clarify counseling practices under Michigan law. Miller said updates are needed to ensure the law reflects the actual scope of practice and training of licensed professional counselors, and to be consistent with wording in the Board of Counseling’s Administrative Rules. This measure would be the first update to this …

Gerald D. Barnes, age 94, of Leonidas, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, after several months of failing health. Gerald (those from grade school knew him as “Duane,” in Leonidas as “Joe”and in Battle Creek as “Jerry”) was born Nov. 17, 1924, in Fulton, a son of the late Perry and Eola Barnes. He …

William H. Johnson, Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at his home on Corey Lake on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Bill was born on December 12, 1928, in Elkhart, to Lorene and Herbert Johnson. He grew up in Elkhart, along with his beloved sister, Marilyn Claire (Teller), who preceded him in death in 2013. He attended Elkhart High School before Augustana …

Michael Ralph Shelton-Shea, age 47, died on Friday, March 8, 2019. Arrangements are pending at Hohner Funeral Home.

Patrick Joseph Hempel, age 59, was called home by the Lord on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. He was born in Three Rivers Hospital on Oct. 29, 1959 the son of Robert L. and Sarah F. “Sally” (Thorsdale) Hempel. Pat graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1978 and later earned his Associate Degree at Glen Oaks Community College. …

Terry Dale Nieman, Sr., age 64, of Sturgis, died Saturday, March 9, 2019 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Alma, Michigan on May 1, 1954 the son of Dale George Nieman and Elva Jane (Witting) Nieman. He was a longtime builder of recreational vehicles in northern Indiana, building boats in LaPorte and JAYCO Campers in …

An investigation over the weekend led to the arrest of a 42-year-old Three Rivers man on drug-related charges. St. Joseph County sheriff’s deputies obtained a search warrant for a home in the 61000 block of Youngman Road in Fabius Township. About 4 p.m. Saturday, police found methamphetamine, cocaine, other synthetic drugs, and items used in the distribution and sale of …

Allan J. Mann, 31, was arrested last Tuesday in Centreville, in connection with a fatal crash last year. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained from the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office, Mann was charged with driving while intoxicated causing serious injury and two counts operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. The incident occurred in July 2018, …