The Next Generation Fund for Sturgis recently awarded grants in support of three community programs and projects. The recipients are: Eastwood School, $200 for the Eastwood Giving Garden; Sturgis Elks Club, $100 toward its annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive; and Doyle Community Center, $100 to assist in providing open-gym hours at no charge for 6th- through 12th-grade students on school-vacation days. …

Joyce Schrader, age 89, formerly of Mendon, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015 at Thurston Woods in Sturgis. She was born near Leonidas on Sep. 11, 1925 the daughter of Walter W. and Josephine (Bucknell) Barnes and graduated from Colon High School in 1944. Joyce was married to Archie Hawver on Aug. 19, 1944 in Coldwater and they were later divorced. …

Brian Kent Christophel, age 58, of Coldwater, passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the Community Health Center in Coldwater. Brian was born in LaGrange, IN on August 4, 1957, a son of Donald and Elizabeth “Betty” (Black) Christophel. Surviving are his sisters Dawn “Carolyn” (Tom) Jones, Constantine, Gaile (Jerry) Schroeder, Cassopolis; brothers Mike (Terri) Christophel, Three Rivers, Chris (Carolyn) …

Hello. My name is Kelly and I am a long-haired, buff color male kitten. If you are looking for a kitten who is full of vim and vinegar, I am your little man. I am only 3 months old and have lots of energy but I also like to cuddle and am very loving. I surely would like to have …

A 22-year-old Sturgis resident died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Florence Township. State police said Jesse Haack was the operator of a vehicle backing out of a driveway on Dickinson Road shortly before 7 p.m., when it was struck by a westbound car driven by Delrico McGee, 20, of Constantine. The incident took place just west of Sevison …

A Jackson County judge declared Tuesday that the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners did not follow proper procedure when voting last week to remove three people from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County. As a result, Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and board president Barb Parker were reinstated to the 12-member panel …

A period of information gathering will begin soon, as the city of Three Rivers and the Three Rivers Public Library consider a feasibility study regarding a new location for the library. Library officials during their monthly board meeting Tuesday said the former Whitehouse Manufacturing building, at the southwest corner of Main Street and Michigan Avenue, is being considered. A plan …

Michigan State University Extension’s Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute has announced Eric Anderson will be the new Extension educator for field crops and specialty crop production in St. Joseph County. Anderson, who will begin work in late September, will work with faculty, specialists, field-based educators and farmers to achieve efficient and economical crop production and overall advancement of the Michigan agricultural …

While it’s too soon to know what the weather will be like, it’s not too early to start planning your trip for the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk, which is a little more than a week away. Gov. Rick Snyder will lead the expected 40,000 walkers across the 5-mile span beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Walkers can …

The new Kalamazoo East, MI Menards Mega Store located at 5300 Gull Road (Just West of N. Sprinkle Road on Gull Road) will open for business on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. With the opening of this new store, the Kalamazoo and surrounding area can further enjoy all of the great services, low prices and shopping convenience that Menards has to …