Ward
Dainette and Melvin Ward of Dowagiac are the parents of a son, born Oct. 4, 2011, at Lakeland-Niles. He weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces. The Wards are also the parents of a son, Aivian, 1. Maternal grandmother is Karen Williams of Vandalia. Paternal grandmother is Karin Taylor of Bangor. Maternal great-grandmother is Rosalie Buckett of Chicago.

Franks
Melissa and Tom Franks of Niles are the parents of a daughter, born Oct. 5, 2011, at Lakeland Niles. She weighed 5 pounds 13 ounces. The Meadows are also the parents of two sons and five daughters.Maternal grandparents are Donna and Michael Franks of Niles. Paternal grandparents are Karen and William Meadows of Edwardsburg. Maternal great-grandmother is Marilyn Fox of Niles. Paternal great-grandmother is Barb Meadows of Goshen, Ind.

Balos
Staci and Derrick Balos of Niles are the parents of a son, Bo Derrick Balos, born Oct. 5, 2011, at Lakeland-Niles. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Frank and Linda Zavitz of Niles. Paternal grandparents are Dan Balos Sr. and Sandy Hess of Niles. Maternal great-grandparents are Pauline and the late “Bud” Zavitz of Niles and Helen and the late Elton Thompson of Niles. Paternal great-grandparents are Fern and the late Jerry Eull of Niles and the late Helen Bayne and Louis Balos.

Murphy
Kelly and Jodi Murphy of Niles are the parents of a son, born Oct. 7, 2011, at Lakeland-Niles. He weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces. The Murphys are also the parents of two daughters, Natalie, 9, and Elaine, 5.

Rodig
Rick and Sausha Rodig of Buchanan are the parents of a son, born Oct. 9, 2011, at Lakeland-Niles. He weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces. The Rodigs are also the parents of a son, Rusty, 9. Maternal grandparents are Brad and Terri Batchelor of Buchanan. Paternal grandparents are Robert and Sandy Tarqueno of Chicago Ridge and Niles.

Sirovica
John Sirovica and Mandy Windstar of Eules, Texas, are the parents of a boy, Kevin Sirovica, born Oct. 5, 2011, at HEB Hospital in Hurst, Texas. He weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 inches long. His grandparents are Pamela and John Sirovica.