St. Joseph County commissioners this week approved an addendum to the county’s Indigent Defense Agreement. According to terms of the agreement, attorney Kevin Kane will be removed as an indigent defense attorney. Meanwhile, attorneys Paul Gipson and Melissa Hallack will be added. The change is effective for the 2018 calendar year. Commissioners approved the matter Tuesday.

Howard E. Hay, age 97, of Three Rivers, passed away at Grace Health Care Center on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Howard was born April 12th, 1920 to Clarence and Alice (Pierce) Hay in Three Rivers. He worked as a Paper Mill supervisor for Weyerhaeuser Corporation for over 40 years. He enjoyed golfing at Sauganash Golf Course and bowling.  In his …

Jean D. Puckett, age 95, of Klinger Lake, White Pigeon, left this life Sunday afternoon, Dec. 31, 2017, to rejoin her sweetheart of 80 years. Jean was born April 6, 1922, in Chicago Heights, Ill., a daughter of Arthur and Matilda Daniels. The Daniels family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when she was in high school. There, she met her …

Dennis Allen will serve as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in 2018. Commissioners agreed Tuesday to appoint the 62-year-old Allen head of the five-member panel. He replaces, Allen Balog, who was named vice chairman. Allen, who is starting his second year on the board, said he appreciates the confidence of his elected peers. Allen, whose district …

Ten families were displaced after a New Year’s Eve fire about 8:45 p.m. at the Tower Motel, on North U.S. 131 in White Pigeon. First-arriving personnel found smoke coming from the eves of the building. The fire was confined to the attic area. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as fire personnel were scheduled …

With cold weather continuing this week and into the weekend, Sturgis Department of Public Services is asking residents to be conscious of freezing water lines. Conditions are suitable for water lines to freeze, department officials said. In order to help citizens prevent their water lines from freezing, the city of Sturgis recommends that residents allow a slow stream of water …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a two-car crash that occurred last week in Sherman Township. Deputies were called at 8:20 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Shimmel and Featherstone roads. Upon further investigation, they found that an eastbound car on Featherstone Road did not stop at the intersection and was struck by a pickup heading south on Shimmel Road. Three people …

Eric Victor Mow, age 52, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Sturgis. He was born Sept. 17, 1965, in Sturgis, a son of Victor and Patricia (Krueger) Mow. Eric was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1994. Eric was self-employed in the package-delivery business. He delivered packages of …

Joseph Amund Hamlin, age 78, of Klinger Lake, Sturgis, passed away Friday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2017, at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Florida. He was born March 23, 1939, in Merrill, Wis., a son of the late James Harvey and Margaret (Running) Hamlin. Joe resided in Sturgis since 1970, coming from Allegan, and his early life was …

Elsie Jane (Short) Mallo, age 76, of Constantine, passed away Monday, January 1, 2018 at her home. She was born in West Virginia on November 5, 1941, a daughter of Bandy and Fredia Rose. On December 28, 1988, she married Mahlon Mallo in Constantine. She was a member of the Porter Baptist Church. Elsie enjoyed shopping and spending time with …