A number of appointments and reappointments to various boards were made by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. The terms of Jeff Knautz and Steve Houts to the county’s parks and recreation commission were due to expire Dec. 31. Their terms were renewed Tuesday for three more years. Linda Leensvaart was reappointed to the St. Joseph County …

A two-story residence in Sturgis was destroyed by fire Thursday. Sturgis Fire Captain Cody Cripe said crews were called shortly before 6 a.m. to an address on Lakeview Avenue. The first-arriving unit reported a structure with heavy fire showing from the rear of the house. The fire was extending from the basement to the second floor, both interior and exterior. …

Billie Yvonne Reeg, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday evening, Dec. 21, 2016, surrounded by her loving family, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born Nov. 12, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Bryant and Clara (Francisco) Beckwith. Billie was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class …

Donna J. (Ware) Coffinger, age 86, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, at Sturgis Hospital. Cremation will take place with a memorial service being planned for a later date. Schipper Funeral Home in Colon is assisting with arrangements.

Carol S. Weaver, 72, of Sturgis, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, in Sturgis, following a brief illness. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, with Pastor Roger Moyer officiating. Cremation will follow, with interment of cremains in the spring at Moorepark Cemetery. …

Scott Lee “Chacca” Middlehurst, age 53, of Mendon died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on May 9, 1963 the son of Terrence and Lorene (Boone) Middlehurst and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Scott worked briefly at Mid-American Electric in Middlebury, and later as a rural carrier …

Hi! My name is Lionheart and I am a male, shorthair gray tabby. I’m about 2 years old and I’m kind of scared being here. I am a very sweet guy when you pat me and I love attention. I really want to be with a loving family again. Please come in and take me to your home. My docket …

Sheriff’s officials responded to an attempted larceny from a motor vehicle early Wednesday in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a vehicle driven by a Union City man slid off Shannon Road, near Blossom Road, at 3:23 a.m. The victim was able to flag down a passing motorist, who provided a ride back to the Union City man’s …

St. Joseph County officials this week agreed to discontinue its relationship with a Jackson-based company for audit services. A request for services netted the lowest bid from Gabridge & Co. financial consultant of Grand Rapids for the annual task. Its bid was $76,000 total for a three-year period beginning in 2017. The county’s previous auditor, Rehmann financial consultant, submitted a …

Two St. Joseph County communities were included in a list of counties that received grants announced this week by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers will receive funds through the Recreation Passport Grant. In all, 36 communities across the state will share more than $1.4 million through the grant. Sturgis will receive $45,000 …