Kathy Marie Hoercher, 62, of Three Rivers, passed away surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Kathy was born on Nov. 26, 1950 in Coldwater the daughter of Arnold and Edith (Taber) Swift. Kathy has been a resident of Three Rivers for more than 37 years. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Kathy enjoyed …

The next step for a campaign to promote St. Joseph County as a retirement destination for the Chicago-area market will take place at the end of the month. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to meet at 3 p.m. March 26 in a work session that will include the marketing firm 2 Fish Company. Holland-based …

The Three Rivers girls basketball team saw its season come to an end Tuesday in the opening round of regional action. Taking on a 15-6 Stevensville Lakeshore squad in the Class B contest, Three Rivers couldn’t recover from a rash of turnovers, falling by a score of 44 to 35. The Wildcats end their season with a 22-2 record. Boys …

A report of domestic violence led to the arrest of four men who were found to have an active methamphetamine lab inside their vehicle earlier this week in Sturgis. Police were called around 10:30 p.m. Sunday to a disturbance and subsequently stopped a vehicle at Lakeview Avenue and Myrtle Street to question one of its passengers. Officers recognized one of …

State Rep. Matt Lori was recently presented with the “Champion for the Medically Underserved” award for his work to promote and protect quality health care for all Michigan residents. A Constantine-area resident, Lori received the award during the recent Michigan Primary Care Association’s legislative forum. Lori said he was honored to be recognized by the association. Lori, who also serves …

My wife has always done the grocery shopping for the two of us. Her father did the family grocery shopping when my wife was growing up. He had a method of shopping that worked very well, so my wife’s mother let him do his thing. My wife inherited his grocery shopping traits, such as always making sure you have a …

Emil “J.R.” Junior Schmeling, 86 of Elkhart, Ind., passed away Feb. 19, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Union, to Emil and Elsie (Hoffman) Schmeling. He married Lois A. Kruse, who survives along with a daughter, Sue Ann (Tom) Cloud; two sisters, Dorothy (Wayne) Reber and Arlene (Jim) Southard; three nieces, Karla Moore, Karen …

Four men between the ages of 17 and 27 were charged last week with methamphetamine-related offenses in Sturgis. Sturgis police said they responded around 5 p.m. Friday to a report of an unusual odor emitting from a residential unit at the Cato Lane Apartment complex. Officers secured a search warrant and found the four were involved in the production of …

Michigan State Police investigators are looking into a breaking-and-entering incident reported last week in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, a Polaris all-terrain vehicle, a .44-magnum revolver, two televisions, a pair of computers, frozen meat and other items were stolen from the residence, located on County Line Road, south of M-60. The incident was reported Saturday, though the …

A light agenda awaits the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon. Items under new business are an agreement for renewing a cost-allocation plan; a request to offer AFLAC insurance through payroll deduction; and a request to fill a vacant finance accounting clerk position. Also, Commissioner Rick Shaffer is expected to be nominated to the Templene Lake Board. The …