Spring brush and leaf pickup in Sturgis continues this week after beginning Monday. Department of Public Services crew members are starting the process at the north side of the city and working their way south. Weather conditions and varying amounts of brush make it difficult to adhere to a strict schedule, city officials said, so residents should have materials ready …

Edith Schwartz, age 72, of Colon, passed away March 29, 2013, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo surrounded by her family. She was born Feb. 27, 1941, in Choteau, Okla., to Tobe and Lizzie (Miller) Troyer. Edith attended the Honeyville School near Topeka, Ind. On Nov. 18, 1958, she married Christian Schwartz in Sarasota, Fla. He preceded her in death …

A 96-year-old woman, who has played a key role in two longstanding local traditions, has been selected as Three Rivers Citizen of the Year for 2013. Carol Boulette was named the recipient, bestowed annually since 1965 by members of the Three Rivers Lions Club. Boulette played a hand in the formation of the Three Rivers Water Festival as well as …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department uncovered a methamphetamine operation and a substantial quantity of meth following the execution of a search warrant last week in Fabius Township. The Friday incident took place following an investigation by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit at a residence in the 58000 block of County Line Road. A department media release indicated …

Various tools were stolen during a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred early last Wednesday in Sturgis Township. According to a media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, a plasma cutter, cutting torches with tanks, numerous hand tools, and chop saws and grinders were taken. A suspect vehicle is a 2003 or 2004 Chevy work truck, white in color.

The Prairie River Watershed and wetlands in St. Joseph County will be at the center of a presentation Wednesday. Overseen by the St. Joseph County Conservation District and its counterpart in Branch County, the two-hour event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Dresser Auditorium at Glen Oaks Community College. Presenter Rachel Smith, coordinator of the Prairie River Watershed Protection Plan, …

The organization Keep Wolves Protected announced last week a petition to place wolf hunting on a 2014 referendum was submitted earlier this month. If the proposed referendum is approved, it would delay a planned wolf-hunting season, approved by legislatures in December. A 67-day drive to secure signatures and force the matter to be decided by Michigan’s voters netted more than …