William Henry (Hank) Feist, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home at Park Place Assisted Living in Kalamazoo, on Friday, March 17, 2017 at the age of 90. Hank joined his beloved wife, Leitha (Lee) Mae Feist, who preceded him in death in April 2006 after (56) years of marriage, and their loving grandson, Matthew Paul Nadelin (1981-2007; Joana Feist-Lindstrom). …

Two roads and four bridges will receive attention this summer, as the St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced its 2017 road and bridge projects. Road commission manager Chris Minger said the work will take place on Nottawa Road in Mendon and Nottawa townships, and White School Road in Sturgis Township. The Nottawa Road work will feature a crush-and-shape process …

Municipal officials made history last week when they hired Colon’s first village manager. Michael “Mitch” Mitchell was offered the full-time position during the village council’s regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. A Niles native, Mitchell has government experience in five Michigan communities and most recently worked as a real estate agent in Hillsdale County. The 47-year-old Mitchell started work Wednesday, a hit-the-ground-running …

St. Joseph County Commission On Aging Director Tim Stoll has been instructed to determine the feasibility and potential cost of a new senior center built on county-owned property in Fabius Township. The proposed facility would replace the Three Rivers senior center, which is housed in the south half of the Three Rivers Public Library building. County commissioners discussed the issue …

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was eight-tenths of a percent greater than the same month one year earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.3 percent January unemployment rate marked an increase from December’s 3.5 percent. Still, St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was …

The luck of the Irish was not with the Kalamazoo Wings (33-27-1-3) on Friday night as they lost to the visiting Indy Fuel by a 6-5 margin, but a little magic must have traveled with them to Indy the next night as they defeated the Fuel 5-1. The two teams gave the standing room only crowd of 5,363 at Wings …

Mary Louanne Miller, 83, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, March 18. 2017, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness. She was born Oct. 16, 1933, in Three Rivers, the daughter of Newman and Jeanette (Combs) Drew. She lived in the White Pigeon area all of her life and was a graduate and valedictorian of the White Pigeon …

Joyce E. Bauder, age 72, of Centreville, died on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Heartland Nursing Home in Three Rivers. She was born April 1, 1944 in New York, NY, a daughter of Walter and Doris (Hostetler) Hughes. Joyce graduated from New Carlisle High School in Indiana. For many years Joyce delivered the Penny Saver paper from Three Rivers. Surviving …

Carol Jeanne Wadsworth, age 70, of Mendon, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 at her home following a long illness. She was born in Kalamazoo on Nov. 5, 1946 the daughter of Walter H. and Ethel M. (Ware) Swihart. Carol attended Parkville, Athens, and Union City Schools. She was married to Jerry Wadsworth on June 21, 1962. She worked briefly at …

Martin Paul Gillette, age 45, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, March 17, 2017, at his home. He was born June 12, 1971, in Sturgis, son of Clyde and JoAnn (Collins) Gillette. Martin was currently employed by ACM Plastics and had worked over 10 years for Longstreet Furniture both in Sturgis. He enjoyed hunting and mushroom hunting. He is survived …