Behind a three-assist night from Cory Pritz and a two goal performance from Curtis Valk, the Kalamazoo Wings downed the Brampton Beast, 6-2, at the 35th annual ‘World Famous’ Green Ice game at Wings Event Center on Thursday. Despite early pressure from the Beast, the Wings earned the game’s first power play chance and found the first strike of the …

A $10 million project is planned to transform a former foundry building just east of downtown Kalamazoo into a campus-like office space. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Kalamazoo-based Treystar plans to convert the building for office and other uses, including on-site dining. The company says it plans to upgrade the building while preserving it and paying homage to its past. Built …

Jody Lee Merriam, age 56, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital following a three month illness. He was born in Kalamazoo on July 17, 1959 the son of Allen and Anna (Hoogakker) Merriam. Jody graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1979. He was married to Marcia Shingledecker on Aug. 22, 1982 …

Ruth J. Perry, age 89, of Ionia, and formerly of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Heartland Health Care Center in Ionia. Ruth was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Burr Oak, a daughter of the late John C. and Louise B. (Modert) Baumeister. Ruth grew up in Burr Oak, graduating from Burr Oak High School with the …

Hello. My name is Teddy and I am a long-hair orange male kitty, about 6 months old. I have cute tufts at my ears and on my paws. I came in with my brother and we are both kind of scared and want to find a home. I am litter trained and very friendly. Please come in and see me …

St. Joseph County’s plan to establish itself as a premier location for softball tournaments and other outdoor sporting events was solidified Tuesday, when county commissioners approved more than $1.6 million in funding toward a four-field complex in Sturgis. The financial commitment to Sturgis officials came exactly six months after it allocated $2.8 million to the city of Three Rivers for …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan said the district has established a partnership with the Detroit Lions for a summer football camp. Logan said the high school will host the two-day event starting June 11. The camp is for students 6 through 14 years of age. She said students from all neighboring districts are encouraged to attend the event, …

A Florence Township man who came up short in his bid for the county’s board of commissioners two years ago, announced he will try again. Tim Carls, a 55-year-old, full-time farmer, will run as a Democrat in the primary election Aug. 2. If he is unopposed in the primary, Carls will be a candidate in November’s general election. Carls is …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 171 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control permits were issued in 2015, a figure he presented during his annual report Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Other information Wenzel shared included the fact that 25 drain-maintenance permits were authorized to local farmers and constituents last year. The maintenance work was …

Scores of dead crows have been found along railroad tracks in southern Michigan. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that the birds were discovered Tuesday in Springfield, southeast of Grand Rapids. Some area residents estimated that the number of dead birds could be high as 300. Their carcasses stretched about 200 yards along the tracks. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife …