Carol J. McKercher, age 88, of Colon, passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Carol was born June 13, 1924, in Burr Oak, a daughter of the late Lawson and Nellie (Passahl) Lancaster. She lived most of her life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School in 1940. Later in life she spent …

St. Joseph County Administrator J. Patrick Yoder will start work April 1 with a nine-month contract and $85,000 salary. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the employment agreement with Yoder, who will resign at the end of March from his post as village manager of Three Oaks and return to St. Joseph County’s highest, non-elected position. …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department earlier this month was called to a destruction of property incident at a Fabius Township residence. The Feb. 10 investigation took place in the 11300 block of Elizabeth Drive, where peanut butter and Vaseline were spread on the windows, doors and outer fixtures of the residence. In addition, a telephone line to the residence …

The St. Joseph County MSU Extension is inviting elected officials and area farmers to an overnight agriculture and water tour of Central Wisconsin. Jon Zirkle, MSU Extension program director, told members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday the tour offers stops at several locations to view vegetable, field crop and cranberry farms in an irrigated, sandy part …

A court has removed a 4-year-old girl from the custody of a mother who left her home alone with three younger siblings who died when a fire swept through their low-income apartment in Kalamazoo. Police say that 3-year-old twins Tevin and Ty’nitha Williams and their 1-year-old sister Tyonna Henderson were killed in Monday’s fire. The Michigan Department of Human Services …

Officials from the St. Joseph County Animal Control Department are reminding residents that the deadline to purchase 2013 dog licenses is March 1. Cost for spayed or neutered dogs is $10 and $20 unaltered dogs. The cost increases to $40 after March 1. Licenses are available at most veterinarian offices as well as animal control’s Centreville office.

The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department earlier this week investigated an attempted breaking and entering at a residence in the 23000 block of Airline Road in Sturgis Township. Investigators said the incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8:10 a.m. Wednesday. A rear door was damaged in the attempt.

Raymond Lee “Ray” Marshall, age 73, of Mendon, died Monday Feb. 18, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Sycamore, IL on Aug. 8, 1939 the son of the late Raymond Mason and Charlotte L. (Benner) Marshall. The family later moved to Hedrick, Iowa where Ray graduated from High School. There he played football and basketball …

St. Joseph County is expected to share an equalization director with Cass County. What will likely be the third position shared by the neighboring counties is expected to be approved Thursday by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The five-member St. Joseph County Board unanimously endorsed the proposal Tuesday. Cass County administrator Louis Csokasy told St. Joseph County leaders the …

A 59-year-old Three Rivers man was charged with operating while intoxicated after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident Monday in Fabius Township. The man, whose name was not released pending arraignment, sustained minor injuries after his Jeep rolled over at 1 p.m. on Coon Hollow Road, between East Clear Lake and Stoldt roads. There were no passengers in the …