February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was two-tenths of a percent lower than one month previous. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.1 percent February unemployment rate marked a decrease from January’s 4.3 percent. St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 5.7 percent in February. …

As I scoured my email the other day, sorting out the spam from the emails that I actually needed to read, one in particular caught my eye. The subject line made me nervous, so I hesitated opening it. I was worried for what this email contained. Anytime I see or hear the word “changes”, it causes me to pause. After …

The weather was better, the golf not so much. The Wildcat team finished 7th at the Paw Paw jamboree with a score of 197. The event was played at Heritage Glen GC and the team results were as follows: Otsego 163 Edwardsburg 180 Plainwell 181 Vicksburg 183 Paw Paw 191 Allegan 194 Three Rivers 197 Sturgis 199 South Haven 209 …

Henry Jay Weldy, age 70, of Mottville, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at his home. He was born in Elkhart County, IN, on February 11, 1947, a son of Harold and Virginia (Holaway) Weldy. Henry graduated from Penn High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. On April 27, 1985, he married Judy Stroup …

Lawrence “Little Mikey Bell” Hughes, age 54 of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Three Rivers on October 6, 1962 the son of Lawrence and Luella (Harsh) Bell. Lawrence was a lifetime resident of Sturgis and Three Rivers. He was employed on many roofing jobs and also enjoyed working …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials have identified the two people involved in a fatal accident Sunday at the Branch-St. Joseph county line. Thirty-eight-year-old Shawn Shook of Sherwood was driving west on Wattles Road Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle near Stowell Road. The vehicle went off the roadway and struck 53-year-old Jody Clipfell of Sherwood Township …

A new chief financial officer was named during last week’s Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County board meeting. Board members extended the offer to Jill Brindley, who came highly recommended by board member Rick Shaffer. Shaffer, however, abstained from the vote when Brindley was appointed. Brindley assumes the part-time position from outgoing finance director Randy …

Roadsides across lower Michigan will get their first cleanup of the year beginning Saturday as the 2017 Adopt-A-Highway program gets underway. Overseen by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Adopt-A-Highway will take place over three collection periods this year. The first runs Saturday through April 23. A summer pickup takes place July 15 to 23 and a fall pickup Sept. 23 …

The Secretary of State office in Portage is offering the innovative MI-TIME Line service that allows customers to use their phones or computers to make appointments or hold their place in line, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced. The MI-TIME Line sends text updates to notify customers of their estimated wait time and allows them to request more time if …

The Wolverine Conference started the 2017 season with a jamboree at Angels Crossing Golf Club, hosted by Vicksburg Tuesday. On a cold and windy afternoon the Three Rivers golf team finished in 6th place with a score of 192. The overall standings looked like this: Otsego 168 Edwardsburg 178 Plainwell 179 Allegan 184 Vicksburg 185 Three Rivers 192 Paw Paw …