St. Joseph County saw a drop of four-tenths of a percent in its unemployment rate from February to March. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis, the county’s unemployment rate for March was 8.8 percent. The figure also marked a decrease from March 2011, when the county’s unemployment figure was an even 11 percent. St. Joseph …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission announced that it expects to finish work on one road project this morning and start repairs on another later this month. A job started Saturday at the railroad crossing on Muskrat Road, just east of U.S. 131 in Park Township, was slated to be finished this morning. Meanwhile, the commission said work will start …

Glen Oaks Community College graduated 225 students Friday, as the class of 2012, its family members and friends gathered in the school’s gymnasium for the ceremony. About 150 of the graduates participated in the commencement exercise, which was led by school president Gary Wheeler. Also addressing the standing-room-only crowd were faculty member Michael Northrop, alumni Bruce Gosling and student Lynn …

Battling until the final horn, the Kalamazoo Wings season came to an end, as the K-Wings lost to the Florida Everblades 3-1 Saturday night at the Germain Arena and dropped their Eastern Conference Finals series four games to one. While neither team was able to score in the opening period, the period’s best chance came from Florida’s Sebastien Piche, who …

Edsell Clark Reames, 87, passed away on May 1, 2012 in New Albany, Ind. Edsell was born on March 3, 1925 to the late Olen Raymond and Evilo (Clark) Reames. He was a proud Marine who served in the South Pacific during World War II. Edsell retired from The Continental Can Company and was a member of the American Legion …

Georgia Kreider, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Oct. 26, 1923, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Pete and Emily (Eyester) Pappas. On Jan. 16, 1944, she married Lloyd A. Kreider in Sturgis. He preceded her in death May 2, 2002. Georgia had been a resident …

Arthur Hamlin, age 75, of Fulton, passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at his home. Art was born March 13, 1937, in Carey, Wyandot County, Ohio, a son of Dee Hamlin and Lona Marie Brown. Art served his country in the United States Army from 1954 to 1958 as a staff sergeant. He retired from Lear Corp of Mendon …

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson said the department received word that its rating from the Insurance Services Office will be upgraded to a Class 4. Addressing members of the city commission earlier this week, Tomlinson said the one-step improvement means the fire-department insurance auditor noted the comprehensiveness of the department warranted the Class 4 designation. The upside for …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has renewed a one-year contract with Fabius Township for law-enforcement coverage. The deal means a sheriff’s department deputy will provide coverage exclusively to the township 40 hours a week. Tuesday’s approval by the county board marks the 18th consecutive year the two entities have worked out such an agreement. Cost for the service …

The Kalamazoo Wings have been pushed to the brink of elimination following a 7-3 loss Thursday night to the Florida Everblades in the game four of the Eastern Conference Finals. With the loss, the K-Wings trail the best-of-seven series three games to one. In a period that was eerily similar to the opening period of game three, the K-Wings dictated …