Officials from Three Rivers Community Schools are appealing to the public to help a Hoppin Elementary family whose house was destroyed in a fire last week. Donations of clothing, furniture, toiletries and gift cards are being accepted at Hoppin Elementary. Clothing is being collected for two boys, a girl, and their mother and father. More information may be obtained from …

Doloriz Jeanette Hendrick, 74, passed away May 8, 2012, at her home in Centreville. She was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and moved to Michigan as a young child. The daughter of Sherman and Mary (Woodard) Thompson who preceded her in death, she had two brothers who also preceded her in death, Gene Thompson and James Thompson. On Aug. 30, 1969, …

Ferris is a one year old Hound/Boxer mix. He has loads of personality and is a very lovable guy. He has had a lot of change in his life and taken it all in stride. He is now in foster care with Up-Cycled Pets and so deserves to have his own forever home. He has been neutered. He is UTD …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel was appointed this week to serve as the administrator of soil-erosion permits. The move taken by St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners Tuesday means the permits will no longer be the responsibility of the county’s conservation district. In addition, commissioners accepted Wenzel’s recommended revised fee for soil-erosion permits. The conservation district in November …

The filing deadline for county offices was Tuesday, and voters in St. Joseph County in August will have choices to make in at least three contests. Five candidates are vying for the post of probate judge, a position currently held by the retiring Tom Shumaker. The contestants are John Barnes, Tom Robertson, David Tomlinson, Christine Yancey and Robert Dutka. Three …

Two people were arrested by Sturgis Police Saturday after the vehicle in which they were stopped yielded a trio of one-pot meth labs. Police said the inactive labs were found in the trunk of the car, which was pulled over around 2 a.m. at an unidentified location for a moving violation. While the matter was being investigated by police, a …

Shannon Lynne Carter, age 62, a life-long resident of Sturgis, passed away after a short illness on May 13, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Jan. 8, 1950, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Raymond and Carol (Hansen) Strang. Shannon retired from Sturgis Hospital in April 2011 after 27 years as a dietary aide. She …

Thomas E. (Tommy) Pettit, age 37, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Monday, May 14, 2012, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. Tommy was born Jan. 9, 1975, in Marshall, a son of Jerry and Joan (Little) Pettit. Tommy had lived in Marshall, Colon, Vicksburg and in Sturgis for the past 20 years. He graduated from Sturgis High School with the class …

John F. Loftus, formerly of Dover, Mass., died peacefully May 11, 2012, in Three Rivers. Beloved son of Frances A. (Guastello) and the late Kevin T. Loftus; devoted father of Lincoln P. Loftus of Three Rivers; brother of Brian J. of Wellesley, Christopher P. of Boston and Elizabeth A. Loftus-Rafalin Maplewood, N.J.; also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces and …

Geraldine L. Halsey, age 92, of Centreville, passed away Sunday morning, May 13, 2012, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born Dec. 30, 1919, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Ernest and Josephine (Fullrider) Miller. Mrs. Halsey resided in Centreville since 2005. Prior to moving to Centreville, she lived in Sturgis since 1994, coming from …