A Michigan Department of Health and Human Services employee in St. Joseph County received a prestigious award issued by a state panel last week in Bay City. Susan Pyles, a foster care specialist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office in Centreville, was honored as the “Foster Care Worker of the Year” during Friday’s luncheon staged by the …

Saturday’s 13th annual fall collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling was declared a success by its organizers. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the four-hour collection netted 30,000 pounds of electronics, 8,000 pounds of hazardous waste, 226 tires, about 14,000 pounds of paper and cardboard, 4,000 pounds of latex paint, and one and one-quarter semi-trailers …

A shortage of staff will reduce the number of food inspections in the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s three counties. Environmental Health director Paul Andriaachi said St. Joseph County’s food sanitarian Hannah Warner resigned last month, leaving a vacancy in the food-inspection staff. The loss of staff has made it necessary to institute a reduced frequency of inspections and to …

THREE RIVERS, MI – Three Rivers Health is pleased to welcome Zena Alyashae, MD, to its Family Medicine group. Dr. Alyashae has begun practice on Monday, September 17, as a Family Medicine doctor at Three Rivers Family Care Clinic and Paws Clinic located at 721 6th Avenue in Three Rivers. She is accepting new patients now. Please call 273-9782, or 273-1418 …

Everet C. “E.C.” Leer, age 94, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2018. He was born May 13, 1924, in Brighton, Ind., son of the late Robert B. and Letta (Carper) Leer. E.C. was a graduate of Brighton High School and the South Bend College of Commerce in South Bend, Ind. He was proud …

John Vincent Marshall, age 84, of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family. John was born in New Brighton, Pa. on March 19, 1934, to Daniel Vincent and Mary Elizabeth Marshall. The family moved frequently when John was young, but settled in Ft. Wayne, Ind. where he met and married the love …

Jeffrey H. Lunger, 61, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at his home following an extended illness. He was born Sept. 6, 1957, in Sturgis, the son of Hugh E. and Barbara Ann (Ketcham) Lunger. He lived in Kansas and Colorado, but most of his life in White Pigeon. He was a truck driver and enjoyed model building …

Florence Ingrid Drumhiller (Merrifield), 80, passed away Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. Florence was born in Newberry, Mich., on Nov. 16, to the late James and Della Merrifield. Florence spent her whole life in Colon and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Colon. She was a member of the Red Hats, Colon Chapter. Florence loved to garden, and owned the Colon …

Garrett Myland has been named assistant manager/professional engineer of the St. Joseph County Road Commission. He will aid managing director John Lindsey. Newly retired managing director Chris Minger said Lindsey and Myland will be a good combination that put the agency in a great position for the future. Myland came to the road commission six years ago as an intern …

Sturgis city commissioners recently approved spending $75,000 to enhance security and traffic flow at Oak Lawn Cemetery. The proposal includes: a 165-foot security fence with a 28-foot swing gate at the South Monroe Street entrance; a 545-foot black vinyl chain-link fence; a 16-foot swing gate and two removable bollards at the South Street entrance; 10 solar-powered security lights; an entrance sign, …