Kitty Miller, age 64, of Elkhart, died on Thursday, November 23, 2017. She was born January 9, 1953 in Van Wert, OH, daughter of Charles and Betty (Potter) Spahr. Kitty graduated from Hillsdale High School. On June 11, 1988 she married Ernie Miller in Centreville. Kitty was employed at Valmont Industries and previously at Pro Design in Elkhart. Kitty enjoyed …

Diane Elizabeth Heckler, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 22, 2017, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born Aug. 29, 1951, in Sellersville, Pa., a daughter of the late Robert and Arlene (Hartman) Heckler. Diane resided in Sturgis since 1986, coming from Pennsylvania. She was a homemaker and enjoyed online gaming, watching …

Edna Allen, age 95, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Three Rivers resident, passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Friends and family will be received from 10:00-11:00 A.M., Wednesday at the Bethel Baptist Church, 17852 S. River Road in Three Rivers where funeral services celebrating the life of Edna Allen will begin at …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution calling for a hiring freeze. The mandate affects general-fund positions and takes effect immediately, according to commission chairman Allen Balog. He said it will remain in place as long as necessary and will be reviewed for continuation annually during the board’s budget process. In addition, the county is offering for …

The 27th annual Jail Ministry Banquet took place recently, an event staged through the Correctional Chaplaincy Corporation of St. Joseph County under the direction of Chaplain Jake Schwartz. The meal was provided by several area churches and prepared by parishioners of Calvary Chapel. The annual pie auction added several hundred dollars to the total raised for the annual benefit, which …

The city of Sturgis has received a $375,000 state grant for reconstruction of North Lakeview Avenue from U.S. 12 to the railroad tracks. In addition, Sturgis City Commission members recently heard about proposed options to widen the 25-foot road, expanding it to at least 27 feet. At 27 feet, the road would meet minimum requirements to be considered a major street. …

Shirley Ann Clauss, age 76, of Sturgis, and a former longtime White Pigeon resident, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 22, 2017, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Shirley was born April 27, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Jesse Robert and Dorothy (Krontz) Chapman. She resided in Sturgis since 2009, coming from White Pigeon, where she lived …

St. Joseph County Administrator Pat Yoder ended his career Tuesday on a high note, receiving numerous accolades from members of the county commission. The 67-year-old Yoder announced three months ago he would be retiring at the end of 2017. Instead, Tuesday was his last day and consequently his final county commission meeting, as well. Yoder conceded he was intentionally tight-lipped …

The River Country Tourism Council of Southwest Michigan held a photo contest last month and received dozens of photographs taken in St. Joseph County. The contest theme was “People Having Fun in River Country.” Photos were judged by RCTC officials, who chose three winners. First place went to Tracy Saunders of Three Rivers for her photo, “Sunrise on Pleasant Lake.” Michelle …

Walter entered the world on November 20, 1932 and entered heaven on the same date, November 20, 2017. Walter J. Mroczek I, passed away peacefully in his home in Marcellus on his 85th birthday. His loving wife of 61 years, Joan Walsh Mroczek, was by his side. Walter was well known for his capacity to work hard and was proud to …