Caretakers from Binder Park Zoo and Black Pine Animal Sanctuary worked several hours Friday to remove exotic animals from a Mottville Township residence. Meanwhile, Jessica Achberger, 40, and Troy Leiby, 40, were arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges, and keeping exotic animals without a license. They were released from jail Friday after posting 10 percent of a $5,000 cash/surety bond. …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker of said last week he will not seek re-election to an eighth term this fall. Baker, 64, indicated his intention after he turned down the vice chairman position for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency during its monthly meeting Thursday. Baker spent more than 25 years with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department before retiring …

The December unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by four-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 3.1 percent December unemployment rate was less than November’s 3.5 percent. December’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percent less than the same month one year …

A Marcellus woman was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital after she was involved in a two-vehicle accident last week in Park Township. State police said Sheri Bethard, 53, was westbound on Heimbach Road attempting to cross the northbound lane of U.S. 131 shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday, when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Nancy Visel, 62, …

Fred Cooper, Jr., age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home. He was born near Vicksburg on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1928 the son of Fred and Frieda (Lowe) Cooper and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1946, and later served in the U.S. …

Richard A. Lewis, 60, of Mottville Township, Constantine, passed away Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1955, in Three Rivers, a son of Richard E. and Wanna L. (Keller) Lewis. He was a resident of the Mottville area for the past 15 years, coming from Stone Lake. He was a graduate of White Pigeon …

Organizers behind an effort to recall three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education failed to secure the minimum number of signatures to put the matter before voters. TR Cares leader Sherrie Nowicki said petitions to recall Pete Bennett, Diana DeGraaf and Erin Nowak each were about 200 signatures short of the 1,165 minimum. TR Cares officials …

The Michigan State Police Marshall Post, White Pigeon Detachment investigated a two vehicle injury crash Friday afternoon. One vehicle a 2004 Saturn driven by Nancy Visel, 62, of Schoolcraft, was northbound on US-131 when it struck a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Sheri Bethard, 53, of Marcellus, as it crossed US-131 from Heimbach Road. Visel was transported to Bronson …

Claire E. Knapp, age 86, of Marcellus, MI, passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 following a brief illness. She was born September 18, 1929 in Dowagiac, MI the daughter of Harvey E. and Christine D. (Cowham) Elsey. On June 5, 1949 in Wakelee, MI she married Fred R. Knapp who preceded her in death. Claire retired from G.W. Jones Exchange …

Sturgis city commissioners have called for the repeal of a new state law that prohibits using public funds to communicate any information to voters in the 60 days prior to any local election. City leaders said state law already prohibited use of public money to advocate for support or rejection of a ballot proposal, millage issue or candidate election. But …