A two-act evening of entertainment will be the musical highlight of the 2013 St. Joseph County Grange Fair in September. Fair manager Bill Johnson said Josh Turner will headline the Sept. 21 show. Meanwhile, Kix Brooks, who teamed with Ronnie Dunn to form Brooks and Dunn and reel off a string of hits starting in the early 1990s, will serve …

A 44-year-old Three Rivers woman was issued a moving violation after the vehicle she was driving rear-ended a school bus last week in Park Township. Investigators from the White Pigeon detachment of the Michigan State Police said the incident occurred at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the railroad crossing on Moorepark Road, just east of U.S. 131. Police said the Three …

White Pigeon Community Schools Superintendent Ron Drzewicki said Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. and TowerPinkster, will be hosting a contractor outreach meeting 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 at Central Elementary School. The meeting – open to any licensed and bonded contractor – will focus on bid requirements and promote participation in construction projects to be funded by a five-year, 3-mill sinking fund …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team seized firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, illegally-obtained prescription drugs and meth-lab components in a search of a Porter Township residence last week. According to Cass County officials, Blayne Wolf, 47, and Barbara Balentine, 52, were arrested following the 6:30 p.m. raid Thursday in the 13000 block of Carter Lake Street, near the community of Union. Wolf …

Michael Alan “Mike” Schmitt, age 54, of Mendon died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at his home. He was born in Mendon on Jan. 13, 1959 the son of Clement C. and Joan L. (Dick) Schmitt and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Mike graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1978. He was married to Vickie …

Louis E. Peterson, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, February 9th, 2013 at Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers. He was born in Stanwood, Michigan on September 30, 1923, a son of Erick and Ellen (Torgeson) Peterson. Louis Served in the US Army during WW II serving in Europe. On May 9, 1953 Louis married Wilma H. Groeneveld …

Robert John Hutton, 61, of Jones, died Jan. 23, 2013 in his residence. He was born Dec. 16, 1951 in Three Rivers to Robert and Nellie (Ketter) Hutton. His parents preceded him in death. He was also preceded by one sister, Sara Hutton. Robert spent most of his life living on the family farm. He attended Kalamazoo College and Western …

Dale Stevens Jr., age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, Feb. 7, 2013, at his home. He was born July 13, 1930, in Sturgis, a son of the late Dale and Mary (Kinsey) Stevens. Dale was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On March 24, 1994, he married Phyllis Persails in Missouri. He retired from Burr Oak Tool and Gauge Company …

The St. Joseph County United Way had a record-setting 2013 campaign, as its fundraising effort received more than $735,000. During its annual victory celebration Thursday in Three Rivers, representatives from the Centreville-based agency announced the figure, which is the most in the local United Way’s 15-year history. It also marked an increase of more than 8 percent from the $680,000 …

Three area agencies were successful in pulling a man from Pleasant Lake after he fell through ice Thursday morning. The Three Rivers Fire Department, Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department and the St. Joseph County Dive Rescue team were dispatched shortly before 8 a.m. to the Fabius Township location. Two lake residents used an extension ladder and rope to try saving the …