Karen A. Hipsher, 79, of Constantine, died Monday, July 24, 2017, at Kairos Dwelling Home in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s of the Cross Episcopal Church in Bristol, Ind., where services will begin at 2 p.m. Interment of cremains will be in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed …

Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board of St. Joseph County have agreed to begin the process of terminating the agency’s executive director. ​Following an 80-minute executive session at the onset of Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved a motion to schedule a hearing at its August meeting to commence the procedure of discharging Elizabeth O’Dell. ​There was no discussion …

The Portage man charged with shooting to death two people last week – including a St. Joseph County resident – was arraigned Monday. St. Joseph County court officials said 32-year-old Zachary Patten was arraigned in St. Joseph County District Court. Judge Rob Pattison charged Patten with homicide, open murder, firearms and home invasion. The felony charges stem from Thursday’s shooting …

Here’s a reminder that a fundraiser to benefit Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services will be staged in two weeks. “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes,” a one-mile walk to raise awareness and funds for the Three Rivers-based agency, will be Aug. 12 at Lafayette Park in Three Rivers. The walk starts at 11 a.m. and will include a kids’ walk, …

Investigators have concluded that lightning was the source of a barn fire earlier this month in Sherman Township. The barn and its contents were destroyed July 10 as the result of a lightning strike. Tri-Township firefighters were dispatched just after 9 a. m. to the 65000 block of Taylor Road. Upon arrival, fire crews found the structure fully engulfed. Officials …

The St. Joseph County chapter of Whitetails Unlimited recently donated $1,500 to the Sturgis Eagles Club. Carolyn Stevens of Whitetails delivered the grant and said the Eagles qualify because of all the positive work it does for the community. She made special note of the free community Thanksgiving meal, its support of veterans and the days its members work at …

We all have a fear of something. Whether it’s a fear of heights or a fear of clowns, we all have something we will do almost anything to avoid. I can handle speaking in front of one hundred people, as long as I’m speaking about something I am very familiar with, but don’t ask me to sing or dance in …

A man accused of killing two people last week has been returned to St. Joseph County from Indiana, where he was arrested Friday. Zachary Patten, 32, was brought to the county jail in Centreville Saturday morning. He waived extradition from Indiana after turning himself in to a pair of South Bend officers. Patten is accused of killing a 31-year-old Kalamazoo …

Amy Roth, Three Rivers Department of Public Services director, said progress is being made on a significant infrastructure project in the southwest quadrant of the city. Roth said all underground utility work has been completed, curbs poured and a base layer of asphalt installed on South Lincoln Avenue, between Broadway to Buck streets. She said the only outstanding task for …

Following the first six months of his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives, state Rep. Aaron Miller this week shared highlights that he said are for the betterment of residents in St. Joseph and Cass counties. Miller touted the budget as a win for Michigan residents and his district. Noteworthy budget items include record funding for roads and …