Authorities say a barn fire in southern Michigan has killed about 10,000 chickens. The Sturgis Journal reports smoke and heat killed the birds during the fire in Branch County’s Bronson Township. Bronson fire Chief Brent Wilber says sparks from a propane gas hookup caused a flash fire late Tuesday, June 9th. Employees put out the fire, but it apparently smoldered …

The Internal Revenue Service says former “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert failed to pay more than $360,000 in federal income taxes. The Detroit News reports the IRS filed a tax lien against the actress in February and details emerged after she recently announced that her family was moving from a rented home near downtown Howell to another …

Kevin Earl Hahn, age 53, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Thursday, June 11, 2015, at his home. He was born March 11, 1962, in Sturgis, son of the late Earl and Sharon (Birgy) Hahn. Kevin was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1980. Kevin was employed as the drug testing …

Centreville High School’s baseball team came up one win short of a state championship, as the Bulldogs were beaten Saturday in the state’s Division 4 title game, 10-to-8 by Muskegon Catholic Central. Nonetheless, Centreville finished with a 29-and-2 record, its best season in school history. The Bulldogs made it to the championship game by defeating Rudyard, 2-to-1, the day before …

A 20-year-old White Pigeon woman was arrested last week after she fled on foot from the scene of a single-car accident in Mottville Township. State police troopers were called to the intersection of Thomas and Blyly roads regarding a car a car that had driven into a pole and guardrail around 12:30 a.m. Friday. Several witnesses tried to help the …

An Illinois man caused a two-vehicle accident after he ran a stop sign last week in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said Jose Balderas, 54, of Waukegan, Ill., was driving south on Decatur Road when he failed to stop at Marcellus Highway and struck a westbound vehicle driven by Bruce Johnson, 56, of Cassopolis. Johnson was treated at …

State Rep. Aaron Miller earlier this month applauded the House for approving the state budget for fiscal year 2015 to 2016. Miller said the budget will pay down debt liabilities, catch up on payments to the state teacher retirement fund, dedicate general fund dollars to fix Michigan roads, and restore Rainy Day Funds to peak levels that have not been …

Dr. Andrejs Dimants, age 75, of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Since the early 1970’s Dr. Dimants has been a long time surgeon for Three Rivers Hospital. Over the last several years Dr. Dimants and his wife have run a family practice and he also served as the Deputy Medical Examiner for …

Mary Isabelle Gilbert, 87, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at Heartland Healthcare Center. She was born in Three Rivers on Aug. 11, 1927 the daughter of Joseph D. and Maria (Coppo) Gherna. Mary was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Mary was employed for WKZO radio and went on to own and operate Gilbert Oil …

Darren Robert Shepard, age 29, died on Thursday, June 11, 2015. In accordance with family wishes cremation will be conducted and memorial services will be held at a later date