Wava Marie Hartman, 89, died on Tuesday, April 5th at West Woods of Niles after a short illness. She was born on August 22, 1926 to Elias and Magdalena Troeger in Defiance, OH Wava graduated in 1944 from Highland-South Richland High School in Ayersville, Ohio and was employed at Michigan Gas Company in Sturgis, MI and Ford Agency in Three …

“We’re all just kids who grew up way too fast.” As a child, I remember thinking to myself, “I can’t wait until I am older.” Life would be so much easier if I was an adult, or so I thought. Of course, as an adult you quickly realize that life is not always as easy as you dreamed it would …

The February unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.7 percent February unemployment rate was equal to the figure posted for January. February’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.1 percent less than the same month a year earlier, …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting the first flu associated death this year, as the number of flu cases caused by Influenza A, H1N1 strain, increase. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is now reporting widespread flu activity throughout the state. Widespread means that outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like illnesses are being reported, and …

Two public hearings and six matters of new business, including a contract for street-sweeping services, will be fielded this evening by the Three Rivers City Commission. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners are expected to stage public hearings on a zoning amendment at 1001 Wood Street and surrounding parcels, and an IFT request for precision wire form. New business includes a …

Seven cases of chickenpox have been reported to the health department’s St. Joseph County office this past week. In January, the Michigan Disease Surveillance System confirmed seven cases in Hillsdale County; most of these cases involve school-age children. According to Michigan law, all students are required to be immunized with two doses of Varicella vaccine or have had a history …

Authorities say two people suspected in robberies in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan have been taken into custody following a traffic stop. The Steuben County sheriff’s department in Indiana says 32-year-old John Morgan and 29-year-old Nickole Collins were arrested early Monday near Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio. They’re awaiting extradition to Branch County, Michigan, where Morgan faces charges including bank robbery …

Police say a $1,000 reward is being offered for information after a local cemetery was hit by vandalism that caused more than $50,000 in damage. Police in Sturgis say more than 30 headstones were destroyed at Oaklawn Cemetery sometime from Friday to Sunday and a small building on the property also was vandalized. According to the city’s website, the cemetery was established …

Denny Seager, Sr., age 67, of Jones, died Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. He was born in Three Rivers, the son of the late Walter and Melvina (Clute) Seager. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School class of 1967. Denny was a charismatic and loving man. He had a “big heart” and was always …

Megan Marie Carpenter, 20, of Sturgis, died Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at her home. She was born April 22, 1995, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Bradley K. Carpenter and Joyce M. Collins. She was a resident of the Sturgis area the past six months, coming from Constantine, where she had attended school. She was employed at J&J Discount in …