St. Joseph County’s former administrator, Judy West-Wing, ended her 30-year career with the county Wednesday. The 54-year-old Centreville resident announced over the summer her plans to retire this month, in part to spend more time with her family, including her 10-year-old daughter. With the county’s 2013 budget approved last month and other loose ends tied up this month, West-Wing said …

Members of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department helped quickly extinguish a fire Tuesday morning at a Lockport Township business. Department officials said the early morning blaze was at K&D Body Shop, in the 57000 block of Haines Road. The fire started in and was limited to a bay area where cars are serviced. Firefighters said damage was minimal.

Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett has declined a raise offered by the village council. In lieu of the raise and at Honeysett’s request, funds will instead go toward a budget allocated to the village’s police cars. The village budgets $4,800 for such expenses, but with the increased cost of gas and with Honeysett’s request, the fund will increase to $5,400. …

Josephine “Jay” Jones, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 19, 2013. She was born Nov. 1, 1927, in Chicago, a daughter of Peter and Anna (Scaperidine) Napoli. Jay had resided in Sturgis since 1973. On June 5, 1954, she married Robert “Bob” Carwile Jones in Chicago, Illinois. Jay grew up on the south side of Chicago. She attended …

Kevin Lee Ridenour, 57, of Peru, Ind., was escorted by angels into the arms of our Lord and Savior at 8:53 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving wife and his two daughters. Kevin was born July 30, 1955, in Vicksburg, to Glenn Ridenour (Lafayette) and Janet (Ridenour) Crabtree of Michigan. He graduated …

We’re more than half way through January, and the winter has not been that bad so far. I’m sure we’ll have our share of stormy weather, but right now, every nice day is a bonus. The snow blower is filled with gasoline and ready for whatever Mother Nature sends our way. I’ve been reminded that we need the snow for …

Shirley J. Miller, age 77, of Constantine, MI formerly of Goshen, IN, passed away Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 surrounded by her family at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born in Goshen, IN on June 9, 1935, a daughter of Shirl and Lois (Hapner) Foos. Shirley attended school in Goshen. On May 18, 1951 Shirley married Tobias C. …

Saturday’s Snowman-Making Contest, an event in which the city of Three Rivers was a registered participant, has been cancelled for the second consecutive year. The five-city event was to see whose residents could build the most snowmen within their community. As was the case in 2012, quality snow conducive to snowman-making has prevented the event from taking place. The other …

Constantine village officials have passed a resolution to honor recently retired police Sgt. Robert Studabaker. Studabaker on Dec. 31 ended a career that exceeded 32 years with the Constantine Police Department. Village Manager Mark Honeysett, who was one of four chiefs under whom Studabaker served, said Studabaker maintained a level of competence and professionalism that benefitted the Constantine Police Department. …

White Pigeon village employees may be in line to receive a 3 percent raise, potentially their first pay increase in three years. Village President Dan Czajkowksi said the raises were included in the village’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget presented last week. Czajkowski said another matter that merits attention is the renovation of the village’s water tower. The exterior has been …