The Constantine Fire Department has surmised that an overloaded electrical outlet was the cause of a fire Dec. 23 at a residence in the 300 block of Canaris Street. Portions of the residence were damaged but the house was not deemed a total loss. There were no injuries as a result of the blaze.

American Axle and Manufacturing appears to be in store for a new product line that could generate at least 200 new jobs at the Three Rivers plant. Company officials said the local plant would benefit from American Axle’s $1.1 billion overall corporate expansion to create components for a passenger/crossover vehicle being developed and introduced by a yet-unnamed manufacturer. A public …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission building is in store for a renovation. The five-member road commission panel recently approved the agency’s budget and within the allowance they allocated $200,000 toward updating the building. Money to cover the work will come from non-road funds. Primarily, proceeds from the sale of old and obsolete equipment will cover the building improvements, road …

St. Joseph County’s Parks and Recreation Department is soliciting residents for ideas and input regarding an update of its five-year master plan. The new, five-year cycle begins in 2012. Department officials said citizen input is used to help develop goals and set a course of action based on the public’s suggestions. The department oversees eight parks that collectively cover 420 …

Gladys A. Taylor Smith, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away  Saturday, December 31st, 2011 at Thurston Woods Village following a long illness. She was born in Sherman Twp., MI on August 31, 1926, a daughter of  Clarence and Grace (Sink) Harter. She worked as a Assembler at the Kirsch Co. in  Sturgis. Surviving are her daughter, Diana Milliman of Bronson, and son, …

It is hard to believe that 2011 is just hours away from being over. It seems like the year just started and here we are wrapping it up. As we sit on the doorstep of another new year, it is again time to sit back and reflect on the year that was. So much happened this past year that it …

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings said goodbye to 2011 in grand fashion by putting an end to their season long five-game losing streak. The K-Wings lost to the Chicago Express in overtime on Friday night by a score of 4-3. In front of the largest crowd of the season, 4,407, the K-Wings trounced the Toledo Walleye by a score …

State Police are investigating two incidents involving a police impersonator Saturday evening. The first incident was reported by a woman who was pulled over by the impersonator on US-131 at Gleason Road on the southwest side of Three Rivers. After giving the man her drivers license, he attempted to open her car door. The woman then took off, leaving her …