Robert L. Hempel, Sr. age 91, of Mendon, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 at Three Rivers Health. He was born near Niles, MI on July 16, 1921 the son of Simon and Gertrude Hempel. Following High School, Bob joined the U.S. Navy and served overseas during WWII. He was married to Sally Thoresdale on March 27, 1942 in Chicago. They …

Harold Eugene Dodgson, age 80, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 at Heartland Healthcare Center where he had resided the past 3 months. He was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 1, 1932 the son of Charles and Frances (Roe) Dodgson. He attended Three Rivers Schools and graduated from Mendon High School. He was a radar technician while …

Mrs. Sandra K. Frey, 74, of Blythewood, S.C., passed away Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at her home surrounded by her loving husband, daughter and son-in-law, and grandchildren. Funeral services will be Monday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Columbia in Boyce Chapel. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from noon …

This will be my last column for 2012. I’m taking the rest of the year off. How many times do you think you’ll hear that today? Everybody wants to be a comedian, including yours truly. I try to be funny, or clever, and this column gives me an outlet to do that sometimes. 2012 has been a pretty good year …

A 15-year-old boy from Sturgis faces a charge of unlicensed driver following a one-vehicle crash at 5 p.m. Thursday in Nottawa Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk said deputies were called to an area near River Run and Angevine roads in response to a vehicle that skidded off the road. Investigators found that a Ford Explorer heading east on …

St. Joseph County’s two newest judges were sworn-in during a ceremonial program, called an investiture, Friday afternoon at the county courthouse. With more than 100 people, including members of their families, witnessing the solemn process, Probate Court Judge David Tomlinson and Circuit Court Judge Rob Pattison took their oath of office, administered by Clerk Pattie Bender. They will serve six-year …

A “Firefighters for Santa” event last week made a brighter holiday for 71 Three Rivers and Three Rivers-area families. Major contributions from Meijer and Armstrong International resulted in more than $6,000 allocated for food and toys purchased and given to area families in need. Members of the Three Rivers Fire Department met Sunday and delivered door-to-door the bags of donated …

Morris Glenn Chapman, age 87, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Sunday morning December 30, 2012 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born January 1, 1925 in Sturgis, Michigan son of the late Jay D. and Daisy Chapman. Mr. Chapman resided most of his life in the Sturgis and Centreville area and also lived in Battle Creek. On …

Shirlie Mae Oberle, age 83, of Columbus, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, December 29, 2012. She was born to the late Ethan Lyle and Lena Mae Miller on September 23, 1929 in Vandalia, MI. Shirlie graduated from Constantine High School class of 1947. It was there she met her high school sweetheart and husband of …

Pauline Muriel Webster, age 87, of Three Rivers, died Friday Dec. 28, 2012 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Battle Creek, MI on Dec. 1, 1925 the daughter of Thomas and Agnes (Arnold) Wood. Pauline attended Battle Creek and Bellevue schools. She was a homemaker who enjoyed clipping recipes and coupons and cooking for …