Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Swartwout, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away at Three Rivers Health on  Monday, June 26, 2017. Jane was born on August 1, 1931 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Michael and Mary (Zellak) Boggio. After earning her Associate’s Degree, Jane worked as a registered nurse for many years at Three Rivers Hospital and in short term …

A smoldering mulch pile is suspected of triggering a massive blaze that destroyed a Mottville Township business this week. Investigators remain on the scene at Green Stream Recycling to confirm the source of the fire that leveled the business Monday afternoon. In all, the services of 19 departments – including five from Indiana, eight from St. Joseph County and four …

More than $400 in cash was taken and more than $1,000 worth of damage caused as the result of a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this month in Mottville Township. State police said the crime occurred between 6 and 8:30 a.m. June 16 at Dirt Buster Car Wash. The business is located in the 14000 block of U.S. 12. The culprits used …

Cass County sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident Tuesday in Wayne Township. According to a department media release, 29-year-old John Richey of Vandalia was driving west on M-62 when an eastbound vehicle driven by 19-year-old Donovan Schoff of Cassopolis crossed the center line. The vehicles collided near Twin Lakes Road. Richey, Schoff and a 14-year-old passenger in Schoff’s vehicle …

Robert D. Phillips, 86, of Fish Lake, White Pigeon, died Monday, June 26, 2017, in Pioneer, Ohio. He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Sturgis Township, a son of Myrl and Helen (Leeth) Phillips. He had been a White Pigeon area resident all his life. He was employed for 39 1/2 years at Kirsch Company, as a machine operator, retiring …

Lathorlyn A. Balk, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Grace Health Care of Three Rivers. She was born in Centreville on June 10, 1930, a daughter of Richard and Virginia (Sloan) Hagelgans. She graduated from Centreville High School in 1948. On August 7, 1948, she married Neubert Balk in Centreville. He preceded her in death on …

Diana Lyn Vedmore, age 65, of Three Rivers, passed away at Borgess Medical Center on Monday, June 26, 2017. She was born on January 6, 1952 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Archie and Connie (Pickard) Capman. Mrs. Vedmore has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and an avid …

Investigators from Michigan State Police and local fire agencies remain at the scene of a Mottville Township business to determine what caused a devastating blaze Monday. Crews were summoned around 4 p.m. to Green Stream recycling, in the 69000 block of M-103. In all, more than a dozen different departments responded and attempted to put out the blaze that burned …

State Sen. John Proos and a small number of state officials witnessed firsthand Monday the success stories emerging from a program through St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Overseen by Judge Paul Stutesman, Monday’s “Drug Court” provided status updates on eight participants in the program. Funded in part through state and federal grants, Drug Court is a two-year program that aids …

The village of Colon has employed an unusual source to clear a park area overrun with poison ivy and undesirable weeds. A herd of 10 goats was hired by the Colon Parks Board to rid the west edge of Colon Community Park of the overgrowth. Park Board member Edith Doenges said the goal was to tidy up the area before …