Four St. Joseph County officials and three county commissioners are running uncontested in today’s primary election. Sheriff Brad Balk, 63, is completing his second four-year term. He has said this will likely be his final run for the office. Balk lives in Centreville. The post currently pays $79,000 a year. Prosecutor John McDonough, 36, is also completing his eighth year …

Sturgis Hospital named Bev Watson, as the Associate of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter 2016. Bev has been an employee of Sturgis Hospital for nearly 15 years and works in Patient Access Services. She was nominated by coworker, Donna Nottoli who says: “Bev is committed to her profession. She takes pride in her work, has an exemplary work ethic …

The president of Western Michigan University is retiring next year after 10 years in the job. John Dunn says he will serve through June 2017 and then become president emeritus for a year. He announced his retirement Monday to give university trustees plenty of time to find a successor. Kenneth Miller, chairman of WMU’s governing board, says the Kalamazoo school …

Mrs. Ellen Naomi Broker, age 94, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2016 at the Heartland Health Care Center. She was born on Dec. 10, 1921 in Vicksburg, MI., the daughter of the late Walter G. and Ruby C. (Springer) Fritz. On December 24, 1940 Ellen married the love of her life Mr. Andrew C. Broker. She …

Francis “Bud” Stanley Krawczak passed away on Saturday, July 30th, 2016 at Heartland Healthcare due to complications related to vascular dementia. Bud was born on August 14th, 1937 in Saginaw, Michigan to Stanley and Adeline (Mrozinski) Krawczak. He married Mary Ellen Oldenburg and together they had four children. He worked at the Saginaw Grey Iron Foundry for twenty-four years before …

Eddie F. Bowman, 47, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, July 30, 2016, at his home. Cremation has taken place. A memorial services will held at a later date. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home of White Pigeon.

The June unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by three-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.9 percent June unemployment rate was more than May’s 3.6 percent. However, June’s unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percent less than the same …

A countywide effort to assist a benevolent organization netted $9,000 in cash donations during a recent, one-day fundraiser. Over a three-hour period July 23, personnel from almost every fire department in the county joined Walmart stores in Sturgis and Three Rivers, the Three Rivers High School band and Sturgis High School cheerleaders to solicit the money to benefit Habitat For …

A 57-year-old Three Rivers man required medical care after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car in a hit-and-run incident last week in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the man was bicycling south on the shoulder of U.S. 131 around 4 a.m. Friday when his bike was struck near the intersection of Garber Road. The driver of …

A Cass County police agency released the identity of a man who was killed in an industrial accident last week. Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department Chief Timothy Kozal said 32-year-old David Kantz died as a result of injuries he suffered from a machine press at a business in the 69000 block of Kraus Road in Edwardsburg. Kantz, an employee for …