Geralyn A. (Gerri) Finch-Smith, 66, of Kalamazoo, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at The Laurels of Galesburg, following a brief illness. She was born May 31, 1950, in Detroit, a daughter of Paul B. and Mary E. (Walsh) Mecklenborg. She was a resident of Kalamazoo the past seven years, coming from South Haven, and lived many years in White Pigeon. …

St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald said she and her staff are preparing for a recount of presidential ballots. The procedure is being done at the request of Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein. Oswald this week said she is putting teams together for the task in order to get state election officials on their way to the next county …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees voted this week to approve a $5.3 million bid to build a student residence hall on the Glen Oaks campus. The bid, submitted by Frederick Construction of Vicksburg, includes all desired alternative options, according to school president David Devier. The three-story, student-housing unit is to include two- and four-suite units that share kitchen …

Three teenagers, including a 15-year-old boy from Constantine, were arrested after being involved in multiple home invasions this week. State police were alerted shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday that a White Pigeon Township homeowner in the 68000 block of Lutz Road reported a home invasion and his residence was ransacked. A trooper investigating the incident learned of a possible suspect …

Susan Jean “Susie” Bingaman, age 73, of Vicksburg, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers following a brief illness. She was born in Grand Rapids, MI on Sep. 25, 1943 the daughter of Sterling M. and Alice L. (Kobb) King. After graduating from Mendon High School with the class of 1961 she worked at the Haas …

Frank L. Kime, age 84, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, at his home, after several months of failing health. Frank was born May 24, 1932, in Sturgis, a son of the late Lester and Hattie (Fisher) Kime. Frank grew up in Sturgis, graduating from Sturgis High School in 1950, and later that year he moved to Colon. …

Lloyd W. Murray, 95, of Portage, formerly of Marcellus, passed away Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. He was born April 6, 1921 in Bloomingdale, the son of Alton Cole and Eunice (Laughlin) Murray. On May 5, 1945 in Detroit, he married Florence L. Bailey who preceded him in death on Nov. 11, 2015. After graduating from high school, Lloyd served in …

Hey man, my name’s Dude and “I Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog” doesn’t make it for me, cuz I’m pretty special with my cute freckles. I’m a male hound mix and really like to keep my nose to the ground, like any good hound would do. I’m tricolor and about 10 months old. I have a lot of energy …

An effort to boost energy efficiency within the county’s historic courthouse could come with a price tag of almost $30,000. Members of the county board’s executive committee were told Wednesday that Three Rivers-based Brussee/Brady submitted the lower of two bids for a job that includes switching out single-pane windows with thicker replacements. The areas targeted are at the two entrances …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a missing person from the Three Rivers area. Deputies said William Robert-James Busch has been reported missing and not heard from since Nov. 24. Busch, who was last seen in the 53000 block of Pulver Road in Flowerfield Township, is a 28-year-old, white male with black hair. He stands about 5-foot-10 and …