Constance Ellen Hutchinson, 72, formerly of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully March 24, 2012 at The Oaks in Plainwell following a lengthy illness. She was born in Three Rivers, the daughter of Robert and Gretchen Reed. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her loving memory two daughters, Kelly Mazur, of Arizona, and Laura Lindsey, …

The former president and CEO of a Three Rivers financial institution has pled guilty to embezzling more than $100,000. Kristen Taft, 57, will be sentenced April 27 after she admitted her guilt Friday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. The Portage resident was found to have used a St. Joseph Valley Community Federal Credit Union credit card to purchase items …

The Three Rivers Public Library Board on Tuesday tabled action on a motion to allow Weenie Kings hot-dog stand to use its parking lot to operate his lunchtime business. A vote to let Mike King return to the site where he sold more than 60,000 hot dogs over a five-year period failed by virtue of a 2-2 deadlock, with two …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department arrested two men last weekend after they were found to be manufacturing methamphetamine on an island in the St. Joseph River. The men, whose ages and hometowns were not included in a sheriff’s department news release, were arrested at a boat launch in Mottville Saturday after they came ashore from an island downriver. A …

Constantine Police Chief Jim Bedell is heading up a cause that would allow for the purchase of a headstone for Jodi Parrack’s gravesite. Bedell said the 11-year-old Constantine girl, whose killer remains at large, is buried at White Pigeon Cemetery and lacks a permanent headstone. Parrack was last seen riding her bike home from a friend’s house in November 2007. …

Frances (Hughes-Crabtree) Buzenius. age 82, of Three Rivers, died Tuesday March 27, 2012 at Bowman House in Three Rivers where she had resided the past six years. She was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 8, 1929 the daughter of George W. and Frances M. (Porter) Hughes. She was a 1947 graduate of Mendon High School. Frances was married to …

Nancy Elizabeth Cardella, 61, White Pigeon, died Monday, March 26, 2012, at her home, following an extended illness. She was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. She was born March 21, 1951, in Long Beach, Calif., a daughter of Jack and Barbara (Ernsberger) Rhoutsong. She had been a resident of White Pigeon the past two years, coming from Three Rivers. …

The Three Rivers High School production of GREASE closed this past weekend. The cast, crew, and production staff put in a lot of hours to make this show one to remember. One shouldn’t compare it to PHANTOM, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, or SOUTH PACIFIC. Every show that is put on by the students at Three Rivers High School turns out …

Southwestern Michigan authorities say a 64-year-old woman died after arriving at her home, where a propane tank explosion and fire took place.  The Cass County sheriff’s department says Arlene Kern’s 36-year-old son had started a fire in a wood burning stove on Monday and propane tank exploded at the home in Porter Township. Authorities say the man got out unharmed …

When it was announced that Sir Elton John was going to play at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo it set off a shock wave of excitement around this area that has not been seen in quite a while. But with all the enthusiasm for the big show, there were those who questioned “why.” Why Kalamazoo and Wings Stadium when the much …