State police officials are investigating break-ins to several residences last week in White Pigeon Township. The incidents occurred in the 68000 block of Hill Street around 5 p.m. Friday. Victims reported the stolen items were primarily televisions and home electronics. Residents in the area reported seeing a red pickup truck of unknown make/model in the area around the time the …

Welcome to 2016, the start of a new year and an opportunity to start everything out fresh. Let’s try to leave the negative things from last year in the history books and keep a positive attitude to what lies ahead of us. We ended 2015 with a reminder that we are now in the winter season. Gone for a few …

St. Joseph County’s newest residents – the first born in 2016 at Three Rivers Health and at Sturgis Hospital – were born Jan. 2. Damian Paul Bucher made his arrival at 5:33 a.m. Saturday. He weighed more than five pounds and was more than 18 inches long. Damian joins three sisters; his parents are Three Rivers residents Ryan Bucher and …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will open the year with four items of new business during their first meeting of 2016 this afternoon. Matters of consideration include memorandums of understanding with the village of Centreville and Park Township for shared grant-writer duties. Also on the agenda is setting the meeting dates and times for 2016 commission …

The Animal Control Shelter Advisory Board will be adding two new members in 2016. During their Dec. 15 meeting, St. Joseph County commissioners approved a request to expand the advisory board’s size from eight to 10 members. The two new positions call for at-large representation. County administrator Pat Yoder said the change in advisory board bylaws was required by the …

Mayor Tom Lowry and the Three Rivers City Commission have five matters of new business before them this evening. The agenda items include whether to consider the home at 429 Fourth Ave. a public nuisance and issue a demolition order; discussion of a $28,000 purchase order of diesel fuel with Drake’s Crystal Flash; consideration of awarding sports complex-related work to …

Thelma “Sam” Deane Rossow, age 76, died on Thursday, December 31, 2015.   Per Thelma’s request, she has given her body for study. Cremation will take place at a later date. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Russell Fredrick Lowe, age 78, died on Tuesday, December 29, 2015.   In accordance with Russell’s wishes cremation was conducted and services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Dear 2015, After 365 days, it is time to say farewell to you. So many things happened this past year. Not just in my life, but in the lives of my family, friends and everyone else whose lives were touched by you. It is hard to comprehend all that has transpired over the past 12 months. Some things we wish …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority’s seventh Free Ride Home program offered New Year’s Eve served 14 people over a six-hour period this year. The figure is the lowest since the Three Rivers-based agency started the program in 2008, on the eve of 2009. As it has since its inception, Free Ride Home started at 10 p.m. Dec. 31 and …