Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Butz, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday evening, Jan. 19, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis. She was born Oct. 22, 1924, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late JG and Hazel (Strang) Pickels. Betty resided in Colon for 20 years, and the rest of her life was lived in Sturgis. She was a graduate of Sturgis …

Hipolita S. Lum, age 100, passed away Friday evening, Jan.18, 2013 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Aug. 22, 1912, in Mesa, Ariz., a daughter of the late Lazaro and Inez (Garcia) Salaz. She had resided in Sturgis since 2004, coming from Yuma, Ariz., where she lived from 1947-2004. While living in Arizona, she had worked as …

LeRoy “Lee” John Kennealy, 86, of Constantine, passed away at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, into the waiting arms of Jesus. He was surrounded by his wife of 42 years and his four children and one granddaughter. Lee enlisted into the U.S. Navy when was 17 years old and served from 1942-1946, on the U.S.S. Monterey with President Gerald …

A day-long investigation Sunday led Sturgis Police to find and arrest a man who allegedly robbed the Admiral gas station on East Chicago Road around 5 a.m. Sunday. According to a department media release, police developed a suspect by using previous arrest warrant investigations from earlier in the month. The suspect, who had displayed a knife to the employee before …

White Pigeon Township Library is promoting a guest speaker who will be on hand for a program next week. Perri Saunders, library director, said Jackson Kaguri  will appear at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 to discuss his book, “A School for My Village: A Promise to the Orphans of Nyaka.” Born in Uganda, Kaguri has been involved extensively in international community …

The death of an elderly Sturgis woman is being investigated by crime scene officials from the Sturgis Police Department and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said police were summoned to assist emergency medical services personnel responding to a woman in cardiac arrest in the 700 block of Myrtle Street. The woman, whose name and age were not released …

Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell has unveiled a strategic plan for the hospital’s future. During the first of a series of town hall meetings, Russell last week said sustainability, quality, growth and people are critical areas on which the hospital will continue to focus. He elaborated on each area, backing up the merits of each. Russell, who also detailed …

Ida Pearl (Tiny) Warner passed away on Jan. 16, 2013 at her daughter’s home in Tennessee. She was born Oct. 19, 1932 in Perryville, Ark. She’s lived most of her life in the Three Rivers area. She was married to Calvin (Lucky) Johnson for 25 years, then to Jerry Warner for 28 years. Surviving are her eight children, Larry, Margie, …

A corrections officer from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was placed on administrative leave after he was arrested for allegedly stealing prescription drugs while on duty. A media release from the department said 12-year veteran Stephen Morris, 39, was charged with two counts of larceny following the alleged incident from the county jail Jan. 9. The case is being …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Committee is short three people and an appeal is being made to county residents to consider joining the panel. During commissioner comments at last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, Rick Shaffer said citizen interest forms can be found on the county’s website. The committee, which meets once a month, reviews …