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 …

Frances Szeide, age 81, of Marcellus, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017. She was born May 26, 1936 in Detroit, the daughter of Jesse Francis Glasscock and Ida Mae Hayes. On March 3, 1956 in Schoolcraft, she married Jack Szeide who survives. Frances worked for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals for 20 years after raising her children. She was a member of the …

A very Happy New Year to all! This is the time when most of us say, or at least think to ourselves, that we are going to do things better, starting today. Whether it’s losing a few pounds by eating more sensibly, or sticking to a budget better than we have in the past. These thoughts will stay with us …

Margie N. Barrington, age 79, of Burr Oak, passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Aug. 5, 1938, in Watermans Front, Texas, a daughter to the late Robert and Gladys (Lawrence) Evans. Margie graduated from Carthage, Texas High School in 1956 and went to Shreveport, La., to business college and graduated an …