Velma L. Beardsley, 82, of White Pigeon, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Garce Healthcare in Three Rivers, following an extended illness. She was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Pineville, Ark., a daughter of Arbille and Fannie Marchant. She was an Elkhart, Ind., resident from 1950-1972, and a resident of St. Joseph County since 1972. She was a homemaker and …

Richard Fisher, beloved husband, father, son, poppy, brother, uncle and friend peacefully transitioned on Saturday, April 22,2017 surrounded by his loving family. Rich is survived by his loving and devoted wife Lana, children Ron (Cristine) Fisher and RoseYetta Witters, mother Glenna Fisher, siblings Joseph (Joan), Donald (Carolyn) and Debra (Diane). Rich was an incredible Poppy to his grandchildren Austin Witters, …

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and electronics generated more than 50,000 pounds of televisions, computers and related accessories. The 12th annual collection featured a flow of traffic that arrived an hour before the four-hour event began at 8 a.m., according to Pat Kulikowski, secretary for the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee. The line of traffic continued through the …

St. Joseph County District Court Judge Rob Pattison last week staged his fourth “Courts in the Schools” program. Before a group of nearly 100 upperclassmen at Centreville High School, Pattison sentenced Megan Kucks, a 22-year-old Kalamazoo resident, and Thomas Polston, a 24-year-old Burr Oak man, for their separate cases of driving while impaired. In part because they agreed to have …

Organizers behind Saturday’s “31 Flavors of Magic” in downtown Colon are calling the third annual event a success. Boosted by a strong array of talent at 10 different venues, “31 Flavors” drew more people than it had at either of the two previous events, according to coordinator Ron Carnell. Spectators were treated to a variety of magic genres, including stage …

Lisa Ann Lego, age 57, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, April 21, 2017, at her home. She was born July 13, 1959, in Hayti, Mo., a daughter of the late Robert Eugene and Ann Elizabeth (Dowdy) Muller. Lisa resided in Sturgis since 1992, coming from Rocky Mount, N.C. On May 26, 1991, she married Ronald Lego in Rocky Mount. …

Larry K. Shirk, age 74, of Constantine, died on Friday, April 21, 2017 at his home. He was born September 23, 1942 in Springfield, OH a son of Gordon and Emma (Ogdon) Shirk. Larry attended school in Springfield. On July 23, 1968 he married Helen Carter in Constantine. He retired from Birkhold Pattern Co. in Centreville after 20 years of employment. …

Tobias C. Miller, age 87, of Constantine, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at his home. He was born in Haven, KS on November 23, 1929, a son of Clemens and Polly (Schrock) Miller.  Toby graduated from Middlebury High School in 1949 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean war.  On May 18, 1951, …

R.J. Edington, age 80, of Three Rivers passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center. He was born on January 23, 1937 in Little Rock, AR the son of R.E. and Roxie (Holbert) Edington. R.J. served in the U.S. Army until his honorable discharge in 1957. He was united in marriage in to Polly Ann “Frankie” Williams …

Helen E. Shemberger, age 96, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, at New Friends Memory Care & Assisted Living in Kalamazoo. She was born April 14, 1921, in Freeport, Mich., a daughter of the late Owen H. Steckle and Lena M. (Smelker) Steckle. She was a graduate of Hastings High School in 1938 and had resided in …