The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to issue paychecks to county employees by direct deposit or through a payroll debit card only The measure will be implemented with the April 12 payday for the two-week pay period ending April 8. Finance director Joni Smith said no longer hand-delivering checks to employees will save staff in …

The biggest boys basketball game of the season in St. Joseph County saw the home team come away victorious Tuesday. The Mendon Hornets, who brought a 15-1 record into its non-conference game against Class D, No. 1-ranked Climax-Scotts, prevailed, 51-50. The loss was the first of the season for Climax-Scotts, which now has a 17-1 record. No. 9-ranked Mendon took …

Frank Worthington, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at home. He was born Sept. 3, 1958, in Sturgis, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Rita (Royal) Worthington. Frank had been a resident of St. Joseph County all his life. On Oct. 19, 2002, he married Kathy Fox in Centreville. He was a veteran of the U.S. …

Erma Kay Wooster, age 63, of Caro, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw. She was born Oct. 29, 1949, in Sturgis, a daughter of Donald Harris and Eloise (Walters) Kottenbrock, and spent most of her life in the Sturgis area. On Feb. 27, 1971, Erma was united in marriage …

Margaret J. Hartman, 87, of Marcellus, passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 in Three Rivers. She was born Feb. 9, 1926 in Decatur, the daughter of Martin W. and Eathel M. (Ballett) Knapp. On May 15, 1943 in Three Rivers she married William F. Hartman who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 2004. She lived at her present residence …

Hopefully, you’ve noticed a slight change in this column. I’ve tried to make it a little more personal, without telling it all. You won’t find as many listings of coming events. Oh, I’ll mention some of course, but there won’t be as many as before. I’ll do my best to keep this column upbeat and more positive. I’d like it …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell was recognized as one of three recipients of an award bestowed by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Caswell, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, received the agency’s Silver Plow award last week in Lansing. The recognition is reserved for state lawmakers whose commitment to agriculture in 2012 ensures the ongoing success of the farming industry. The Silver …

Glen Oaks Community College recently recognized 21 employees who reached milestone years of employment with the Centreville-area school. Topping the list were James and Anne Cook, each for reaching the 35-year mark of employment. Nursing faculty member Janell Lederman was honored for three decades of employment, while Beverly Andrews, Larry Hass, Lynne Holtz and Barbara Thole were honored for reaching …

Joanne Maxine Morhart, age 86, of Sturgis, and formerly of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday morning Feb. 17, 2013, at The Villa at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Aug. 28, 1926, in Springfield, Ill., a daughter of the late Paul and Norma (Huber) Blacker. Joanne graduated from high school in 1944 and joined the Army Cadet Nursing Corps, then …

Three children died after they were trapped in an upstairs apartment when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo Monday afternoon.  Dispatchers say that the fire was fully involved when Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to the Interfaith Apartments on the city’s north side.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 3-year-old twins Tevin and Tinya Williams and …