State Reps. Aaron Miller and Eric Leutheuser recently presented a legislative tribute to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency in the Capitol rotunda after the agency was recognized with an award during National Health Week. Miller and Leutheuser presented the tribute to Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph County, and Jim Cook, emergency preparedness coordinator for the tri-county agency, …

A team of TRHS students spearheaded a safe driving campaign over the course of the last few months. The teens facilitated three events that provided our student body with tips about safe driving during the winter months. At the end of the campaign, a report and powerpoint presentation were submitted to a panel of judges. TRHS won second place and …

Battle Creek (April 21, 2016)- The American Ambulance Association recently presented Darrell Mahrle, a paramedic with LifeCare Ambulance Service, the Star of Life award – – the highest honor an Emergency Medical Service worker can receive. Each year the American Ambulance Association hosts the Stars of Life event in Washington, D.C. to publicly recognize and celebrate the achievements of their …

“The effect of the current El Niño weather pattern will likely result in a spring that is milder – warmer and drier than normal,” according to Dr. Jeff Andresen, Professor of Geography at Michigan State University and the state climatologist. Dr. Andresen was in Centreville on Tuesday, April 19th to give a presentation on his predictions about the weather for …

A squad from the Three Rivers JV golf team traveled to States Golf Course to participate in a quad match hosted by Schoolcraft. The other teams were Kalamazoo Christian and Hackett. The Wildcats finished third overall with the totals looking like this: Kalamazoo Christian 182 Schoolcraft 193 Three Rivers 206 Hackett 208 The Wildcats were led by JD Conroy 48, …

Robert A. Smalley, age 80, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Robert was born Jan. 1, 1936, in Middleville, a son of the late Arthur and Lucille (Alger) Smalley. On Sept. 29, 1962, he married Phyllis M. Coble in Kalamazoo. She preceded him in death Aug. 13, 2008. Robert served in the …

Wayne E. Decker, age 84, of Hastings, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids. He retired as a superintendent at MDOT after 31 years of service. They spent winters at their home in Florida. He loved fishing, hunting, camping, and loved Tiger baseball. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Monafae; daughters Cindy …

Seven individuals were named to the St. Joseph County Remonumentation Peer Review Group this week. The action was taken during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting. Group members provide advice on original public land survey corners presented by surveyors before the county accepts the corners for filing under its County Remonumentation Plan. Members of the group will serve for a term …

The reward for finding who was responsible for damage at Oak Lawn Cemetery earlier this month in Sturgis has been raised to $3,000, thanks to donations from a number of area businesses. Police said the vandalism occurred between April 1 and 3. In all, 34 headstones – some dating to the 1800s – were damaged. Other damage included shots from …

A 14-year-old girl shot in the head during a deadly shooting rampage in southwestern Michigan has left a rehabilitation center. Mary Free Bed Hospital spokeswoman Betsy Musolf says Abigail Kopf was released Wednesday. Abigail spent six weeks at the Grand Rapids facility and a couple of weeks in another hospital following the Feb. 20 rampage that killed six people and …