This will be my final column for 2015. I’m taking the rest of the year off and getting some much-needed rest. My next column will be on Tuesday, January 5, 2016. I’m hoping that everyone had a joyous and memorable Christmas, and that you all received the gifts you asked Santa for. My Christmas was fantastic, but there still isn’t …

The case of a Three Rivers woman who allegedly stabbed a man Nov. 21 is expected to head to trial. During court action earlier this month, Cheri Sparks, 54, waived a preliminary examination. Consequently, the matter is moving forward to a trial at Circuit Court. Sparks is charged with assault with intent to murder following an incident involving a 51-year-old …

Final numbers are in, and a holiday food and toy drive in White Pigeon benefitted more than 50 area families. Thanks to drives staged on separate Saturdays, enough food and toys were dropped off at Wagoner’s and at Central Elementary School to benefit the large number of families. A check from the White Pigeon Firefighters Association provided the winning classrooms …

Various tools valued at nearly $2,000 were stolen last week from a pole barn in Constantine Township. State police were called Dec. 22 to the 62000 block of Beers Road after the owner noticed the items were taken overnight. A similar incident occurred a week earlier, the victim told authorities. A department media release did not indicate the manner in …

James “Jim” Kevin Wolfinger, age 55, of Bryson City, NC, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2015 at his home. He was born September 13, 1960 in San Jose, CA, a son of George and Josephine (Mull) Wolfinger. Jim worked as a self-employed roofer in Daytona Beach, FL most of his life. He also worked with his brothers in tree and …

A gas station in Sherman Township was robbed Sunday night. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the suspect entered the Marathon station in the 64000 block of M-66 shortly before 11 p.m. and robbed an employee of an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was described as a white man, approximately six feet tall, and wearing a white mask …

Martha M. (Forreider) Merchant, 95, of Kalamazoo, died Thursday evening, Dec. 24, 2015. Martha was born Aug. 26, 1920 in Sidney, Ohio a daughter of J. Isaac and Lulu (Dodson) Jones. She had been a lifelong Schoolcraft area resident and attended Sunnyside United Methodist Church. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Eugene Forreider in August …

Oliver Wendell Roberts, 90, of Leander, Texas, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Generations Church, 1461 Woodview Drive, Leander, TX 78641, under the direction of Pastor Bob Brydon. Interment with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. sharp in Central …

The village of Colon’s computer system was hacked at some point in the early morning hours Wednesday last week. Village president Tom Tenney said no personal information was compromised. Tenney said the email looked authentic and it indicated it was from the village of Colon. Tenney said when the email is opened, what looks to be the homepage for Google …

Members of the Constantine Village Council are studying a proposal to ban assault weapons. No mention was made at last week’s council meeting regarding a problem with such weapons within the village. Police chief Mark Honeysett said a memo regarding the matter was included in council packets for review at the request of village president Pat Weiss. Weiss was absent …