Richard R. Hyde, 80, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, Oct. 3, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Sept. 13, 1932, in Sturgis, a son of the late Maurice and Erma (Foss) Hyde. Dick resided his entire life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1950. He was first married to Noreen …

Mildred Patrick (Kime) Hamlet, 97, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, Oct. 3, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born April 1, 1915, in Kenton, Ohio, a daughter of the late Ollie and Lula (Birchfield) Patrick. Mrs. Hamlet resided in Sturgis since 1996. Prior to moving to Sturgis, she lived in Rome City, Ind., and Auburn, Ind. On …

Zealen Garrett Shears, 10-month-old son of Halen and Amanda (Haines) Shears of Kalamazoo, passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 2, 2012, at Mott Children ‘s Research Hospital in Ann Arbor. Zealen was born Nov. 7, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Even though Zealen wasn’t in this world for long, he will have an everlasting impact on many lives. He had an amazing …

Layla found her family! She is so happy to be back home. Hi All, I am Jax. I am a one year old male Jack Russell Terrier mix. I am a very happy friendly guy and I love being with people. I do pretty well on a leash, I can learn that because I am a very smart boy. I …

The Three Rivers City Commission will be losing a member of its seven-person panel next month. Commissioner Judy Gilchrist announced during Tuesday’s meeting that she is moving out of state and, consequently, will vacate her First District seat Nov. 5. Gilchrist, 70, said she is getting married and she and her husband-to-be will be living in Oregon. She was unopposed …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to move forward on a plan to enhance a drug-investigation division of the sheriff’s department. With the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers agreeing to pledge their support, commissioners signed off on financially backing the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Spearheaded by Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, the initiative will involve training …

The Constantine Fire Department has received a grant in excess of $84,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Assistance to Firefighters” program. The grant is for operations and safety improvements, and is to be designated for items such as professional training, fitness- and wellness-program equipment, personal protective gear, and facilities improvements and supplies. Constantine Fire Chief Mike Hayden said the …

The seventh annual Project Connect, staged Wednesday over a six-hour period in Centreville, drew more than 350 people, event organizers announced. Staff from more than 50 local agencies, businesses and services were on hand to help St. Joseph County residents with a variety of needs. Organized by the St. Joseph County Human Services Commission, Project Connect took place at Firm …

Betty Jean (B.J.) Thompson – White, age 69, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at her home. She was born in Constantine on April 10, 1943, a daughter of LaVern and Annabelle (Shuey) Sweitzer. B.J. graduated from Constantine High School in 1961. On April 7, 1989 she married Richard White in White Pigeon. B.J. worked as an electrician …

Addie Loudean (Carter) Carter, 94, went to be with her heavenly father on Sept. 20, 2012. Loudean was born to George Washington Carter and Cordie B. (Franks) Carter on Feb. 9, 1918 in Houston, Miss. Loudean moved to Three Rivers in 1941 with her husband Edgar and their son. Loudean retired from Weyerhaeuser after 17 years of service. She was …