Rama Oleta Pierson, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away at her home Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012. She was born July 6, 1921, in St. Louis, a daughter of the late Fay and Julia (Hobgood) Shafer. Rama spent her early childhood on a farm in Howe, Ind., and moved to the Sturgis area in the early 1940s. She also lived in …

John Wesley Climmons was born March 24, 1925 to the union of the late Isaac and Eunice (Williams) Climmons in Pike County, Miss. He passed away on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 at 10:20 a.m. at Heartland Health Care Center, following a lengthy illness. He was married to Henrietta Applegate Climmons. No children were born to the union. He is survived …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission have agreed to a tax-abatement request sought by Precision Wire Forms. The action was taken during Tuesday’s meeting, when Lowry and commissioners mulled the 12-year Industrial Facilities Tax-Exemption Certificate for the West Broadway Road business. Company officials indicated Precision Wire Forms is expected to make a $1.3 million investment …

Roadwork along two heavily traveled routes in St. Joseph County is finished in one location and winding down at the other. The Michigan Department of Transportation on Thursday was scheduled to complete maintenance work on M-66, between U.S. 12 and the Indiana state line, in Sturgis and Sturgis Township. The three-day construction project resulted in single-lane closures on the busy …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has unveiled the newest addition to its marine patrol. Sheriff Brad Balk and Captain Jason Bingaman this week showed off its newest boat, a Boston Whaler that features a side-scan sonar device. Thanks to nearly $3,500 in donations, the department was able to purchase the boat and sonar unit. The boat was named “Daniella,” …

The demolition of the former Parkville Christian Community Church took place Tuesday, leaving the 146-year-old building a pile of brick by the time it was leveled. The action came just a few weeks after the Park Township Board of Trustees accepted a low bid of $29,000 from Three Rivers-based Roberts Bros. Excavating to demolish the church. Township officials and some …

Constantine Middle School was the recipient of a $4,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. During a presentation Saturday, Josh Onken, site operations manager for the Constantine plant, made the donation. District officials said the grant will be used to purchase new library books and create a program to encourage reading. Onken said the …

Two snowmobiles and a trailer were stolen either Aug. 4 or 5 from a location in the 62000 block of M-60, in Fabius Township. State police investigators from the White Pigeon detachment are looking for clues related to the theft of a Haulmark trailer that contained the two 1997 Yamaha snowmobiles. Investigators said the trailer is missing its front door.

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners have appointed a Sturgis resident to fill one of two vacancies on the county’s Commission on Aging Board of Directors. Stephen Boland was tapped to replace Lori Wright, who announced her resignation earlier this month due to work- and military-related commitments. Boland is a member of an ad hoc committee looking …

Lucinda Ann Peck (formerly Holm), 77, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, Aug. 20, 2012 at her home she shared with her surviving husband since Nov. 14, 2008, Harold Peck. She was born in Sherwood Township, Branch County, on July 7, 1935 the daughter of Ralph K. and Glennys (Moughton) Kimbel. Lucinda was married to Charles Robert Gould on …