Allen Balog won his fourth two-year term to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in Tuesday’s general election. The Three Rivers resident and former mayor of Three Rivers will join John Dobberteen as the only two incumbents returning to the five-member board in January. Representing Flowerfield and Fabius townships, and the city of Three Rivers, the 60-year-old Balog fended …

Aaron Miller fended off a strong campaign from challenger Carol Higgins to retain his seat Tuesday as 59th State House District representative. The 29-year-old Sherman Township resident likened his being contested to a “doctor’s check-up.” Miller is finishing his first two-year term after winning the 2014 general election as a dark horse in a four-candidate field. He said it will …

Membership to four different village councils and one spot on the Sturgis City Commission were decided Tuesday. In Centreville, Gary McClain, Steve Quake, Daniel Merten and Richard Thompson were elected to the board as trustees. Constantine will see Gary Mathers take over as president, and Willie Harder, Cathy Piper and Richard Larrance serve as trustees. Mendon residents selected Kirk Spence, …

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen has won a partial term on the state’s highest court. Larsen defeated Wayne County Judge Deborah Thomas and lawyer Kerry Morgan in the election Tuesday. She was appointed to the court in 2015 and now will serve the two years remaining in the term of a justice who resigned. Larsen was nominated by the …

Terril “Terry” R. McKenzie, age 76, of Three Rivers, passed away early morning of Monday October 24, 2016 at Grace Healthcare of Three Rivers. He was born on November 5, 1939 in Dowagiac, the son of Maynard and Jeanette (Freese) McKenzie. Terry met his wife, Betty Kent in third grade and together raised three daughters. Terry and his family worked …

We recently attended a play which featured grade school and junior-high students. The audience was made up mostly of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other fans of all ages. The play was clever and well produced. The talent exhibited was more than exceptional. It was downright good. I’ve appeared in quite a few plays put on by community theatre groups, …

Mr. Jerry V. Rogers, age 72, of Burr Oak, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 6th, 2016 at his home. He was born on March 1, 1944 in Elkhart, IN.; the son of the late Paul W. and Bertha (Lehman) Rogers. Jerry has been a long time resident of this area. He farmed for many years with Oak Prairie Farms …

Mr. Glenn “Shorty” Francis Orr, age 56, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, Nov. 5th, 2016 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Three Rivers on October 6, 1960, the son of Gary W. and Mary (Desro) Orr. Glenn attended Three Rivers Schools where he graduated with the class of 1979 and maintained many friendships …

Timothy C. Kennard, age 62, of Chesterfield, and a former resident of Sturgis, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2016, at McLaren Macomb Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was born May 25, 1954, in Elmhurst, Ill., a son of Donald L. and Phyllis J. Kennard. Tim resided in Chesterfield since 2003, going there from Sturgis, and his early …

October is a big month for sports fans everywhere. College football and the NFL are well underway, the NBA is just getting started and for me, the best of all, HOCKEY season is upon us. In the midst of it all, however, is America’s pastime, which seems to take a back seat to everything else in the wide, world of …