I am not one to play the lottery. I can count on my fingers the number of times I actually bought a Lotto, Mega Millions or Power Ball ticket. I am more prone to buy scratch off tickets. I don’t quite know or understand their appeal to me, but I will buy a few over the course of a few …

Ronald Eugene Yoder, age 67, of Three Rivers passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Elkhart, IN on July 14, 1948 the son of Alvin and Rosella (Szymonski) Yoder. Ronald served his country in the U.S. Army serving two tours in the …

A lawsuit against county clerk Lindsay Oswald and the fate of a recall effort targeting three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education appears to have come to a simultaneous end. A conference hearing Friday before Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Alexander Lipsey resulted in the conclusion that Oswald acted impartially when she dismissed signatures from the …

Two men were arrested last week after police were called to the 300 block of South Clay Street in Sturgis to investigate a stabbing incident. Joshua Michael Wood, 28, was arrested early Friday on outstanding warrants and Jared Michael Payton, 26, was charged with assault with intent to murder. Payton remains in jail with a $250,000 cash/surety bond. A 35-year-old …

A long-time fixture with a local agency has announced he will be retiring. After 40 years with Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, including the past nine as health officer, Steve Todd said he will retire in January. The agency recently announced it received its sixth letter of accreditation, the only local health department to earn that number. The past two …

The case of a former Centreville High School teacher charged with criminal sexual conduct has been bound over to circuit court for trial. St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton last week took the action after hearing testimony from two former students of Terry Miller. Prosecutor John McDonough is charging Miller with 107 counts of misconduct for allegedly touching …

A major north-south route in St. Joseph County closed since July for bridge construction reopened this week. Crews from Hudsonville-based Grand River Construction on Thursday lifted the Silver Street detour in Mendon Township after completing construction of a new bridge at the Portage River. The job was a full rebuild to replace a bridge that crew foreman Dean Stewart said …

Two men were honored last week as they were inducted into the St. Joseph County Grange Fair Hall of Fame. Floyd Loudenslager and relatives of the late Lloyd Cupp were at the center of the fanfare. Cupp was a 28-year member of the fair’s board of directors, including a term as its president. Loudenslager, meanwhile, also served on the fair …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is encouraging all tri-county residents to protect themselves by getting flu shots. Steve Todd, Health Officer for the tri-county health department states “The availability and affordability of the vaccine make it easier than ever to protect yourself and your family.” Kim Wilhelm, Prevention Services Director adds “We are encouraging everyone over the age of …

Francis “Frank” Xavier Murphy, Jr, age 71, of Coloma, MI, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2015 with his family by his side. He was born June 6, 1944 in Chicago, IL, the son of Francis Xavier Sr. and Bernice (Wsol) Murphy. Francis was a welder for Pipefitters Local #190 and was brought to this area from Elmhurst, IL for the …