Carol J. Bidelman, age 75, of Marcellus, MI passed away Saturday, March 26, 2016. She was born December 26, 1940 in Paw Paw, MI the son of Elmer L. and Dorothy E. (Weatherwax) Oakes. On July 24, 1965 in Perry, MI, she married Robert Bidelman and he survives. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Marcellus V.F.W. Post 4054 …

Robert “Bob” Horton, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, March 25, 2016 at his home. He was born on November 9, 1936, a son of Arthur and Virginia (Belman) Horton in Marshall. Bob graduated from Jackson High School in 1955 and later attended classes at Jackson JC and Glen Oaks CC. On July 29, 1956, he married Charlene “Dee” Titler in …

Clara Mae Green, age 71, of Coldwater, passed away Friday, March 25, 2016, at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater. She was born Dec. 17, 1944, in Colon, a daughter of the late Ore and Treva (Strome) Metzger. Clara had been a resident of the Bronson and Sturgis area all her life and had resided in nursing home care …

Mrs. Gladys Mae McClain, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home following a lengthy illness. She was born on Nov. 7, 1926, in Three Rivers, MI., the daughter of the late Vernon and Daisy (Roberts) Wright. Gladys graduated from Constantine High School in 1946. In 1948, she graduated …

St. Joseph County’s E-911 Central Dispatch fell short of a goal in 2015 but the objective remains a work in progress, according to agency director Dennis Brandenburg. Presenting his department’s annual report to county commissioners last week, Brandenburg said his No. 1 goal in 2015 was to staff central dispatch fully. Regarding accomplishments last year, Brandenburg said the agency received …

Members of the St. Joseph County’s Solid Waste Committee are asking residents to be mindful of an approaching date as they begin their spring cleaning in coming weeks. The agency’s twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste, and recycling of electronics, tires paper and latex paint takes place April 23rd at the county fairgrounds. The event will take place 8 a.m. …

A quote for work related to the development of a septic system and restroom at Nottawa Park at Sand Lake was awarded last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County administrator Pat Yoder said a $12,000 quote was received from Jones Petrie Rafinski of Elkhart for engineering services to complete the project and ready it for construction. …

Cass County’s E-911 Central Dispatch fielded a number of calls Thursday regarding structural damage caused by high winds. According to an agency media release, the dispatch center around 3:30 p.m. had received a number of calls from the village of Edwardsburg regarding several reports of downed trees. Many trees were uprooted, several homes received wind damage to shingles and siding, …

The Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee for State Police this week approved a $654 million budget that state Rep. Aaron Miller said improves public safety for all Michigan families. Miller, chair of the panel, said the budget includes funding for a state trooper school that will train 64 men and women to provide law enforcement across the state. The spending plan …

Six area student-athletes received all-state accolades for their work on the hardwood floor this season. Three girls were recognized: Mendon’s Megan Zinsmaster, a senior, was named to the Class D honorable mention team; Riley Phelps, a White Pigeon High School senior, earned a nod to the Class C honorable mention squad; and Centreville’s Bailey May, also a senior, was named …