A Sherman Township official has pleaded not guilty to a charge of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a charitable organization. Bruce Bart, 49, appeared Tuesday before St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton for arraignment after a notice to appear was issued by prosecutor John McDonough. According to court officials, Bart is accused of …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced the start date of its twice-a-year hydrant flushing. The flushing will begin at 11 p.m. Monday next week. DPS officials said they expect flushing to continue through May 6, with the work taking place Sundays thru Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Due to many variables, the department is not …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind parents and caregivers of techniques that can help to substantially reduce the infant death rate in the three-county region and across the state. After years of significant decline, Michigan’s infant-death rate has held relatively steady since 2004, indicating that not all parents and caregivers are getting the message about safe sleep …

Opal May (Chrisman) Brown, age 90, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. She was greeted by many family members including her husband Richard Brown, her parents Elmer & Ruth Chrisman, her sister Irene Tokarski, and her great grandsons Max, Jett, & Henry Fuelling. Opal “Bobo” was born on January 22, 1926 in Three Rivers, Michigan. …

Lewis E. “Eddie” Zickafoose, age 75, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, March 28, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born June 5, 1940, in Sturgis, a son of the late Earl and Mary (Cheney) Zickafoose. Eddie was a lifelong Sturgis resident. He was married to Evelyn White, who preceded him in death March 28, 2004. Eddie …

We set our clocks ahead one hour over two weeks ago, we celebrated Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, so this has to be spring. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, because I can usually leave the house without a jacket and not have to worry about scraping the ice off my car windows. On the subject …

Jeannette M. (Haas) Donnelly, age 96, died on Good Friday, March 25, 2016 in Deltona, Florida after several years of failing health. She was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 15, 1920 the daughter of the late Bernard C. and Mildred (English) Haas. Jeannette graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1938, and later graduated from Western Michigan …

Callers can be heard pleading to 911 dispatchers for help after a woman was shot outside an apartment complex during one of three shootings that left six people dead and two wounded in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area in February. The 911 calls were released Tuesday. In one, a woman can be heard telling a shooting victim, “Please don’t move. They’re …

Shalee Rene Howe, age 34, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Friday, March 25, 2016, at her home. She was born May 26, 1981, in Goshen, Ind., a daughter of James J. and Loria A. (McFall) Swinehart. She was a resident of the White Pigeon and Mottville area all her life. She attended White Pigeon schools. She enjoyed being a …

St. Joseph County was chosen for a pilot program through the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards. The group was recently awarded a $4.2 million grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support 12 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for seniors. According to officials from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. …