The Exchange Club of Sturgis recently announced its 19th “Keep Sturgis Beautiful” Award program winners, recognizing four city homeowners and one commercial business. As in the past, the Exchange Club chose one winner from each of the city’s four corners as well as one non-residential property. Sturgis Neighborhood Program Director Monica Smith shared that the properties are judged and selected …

An 18-year-old woman and 31-year-old man have been arrested after a counterfeit $100 bill was used to pay for a milkshake at a western Michigan restaurant. The Kalamazoo Gazette and Battle Creek Enquirer report Sunday that police later found fake bills were passed Saturday at three other businesses in Battle Creek. Police say the woman took the change from the …

Jonathan L. Miller, age 42, of Colon, passed away Sunday, August 23, 2015 at his home.  He was born July 28, 1973 in Sturgis, a son of Michael and Marilyn (Nye) Miller. He graduated from Colon High School in 1991 and attended Glen Oaks Community College. He was employed at IAC in Mendon for 24 years. Jon enjoyed motorcycles, four wheelers …

Larry Back, age 56, of Centreville, passed away Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Larry was born in Seymour, IN on February 20, 1959, a son of Willis and Dora (Short) Back. He graduated from Austin High School, Austin, IN, in 1977. Larry proudly served in the US Army. On November 21, 1987 he married Rebecca “Becky” Rowe in …

Michael Stanley Swiatkowski, 74, of Baldwin, passed away at home on June 26, 2015 with his loving wife by his side. He was born March 11, 1941 in Chicago, Ill. to Casimir and Della (Beben) Swiatkowski. Michael leaves behind his loving wife of 48 years, Carol (Masunas); and children, Marilyn (Ward), Tammy (Ostrowski) and Michael J. Swiatkowski. Michael had six …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough has released the names of the two men involved in a fatal shooting Thursday evening in Three Rivers. McDonough said Westley George, 28, of Three Rivers faces a number of charges after fatally shooting Eugene Jackson, 24. The incident, McDonough said, is believed to be the result of a dispute between the two, and …

A Lake Michigan surfer is credited with aiding in the rescue of two teenage girls who were caught in an apparent rip current, according to police. The girls, ages 13 and 14, were approximately 800 feet from the pier in Grand Haven State Park, said Grand Haven Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke. Surfers and emergency personnel pulled them from Lake …

Three Rivers traveled to Arbor Hills Golf Club in Jackson for the Jackson Western Invitational with mixed results. Erin Taylor finished T15 overall with a score of 101 (out of 90 players). However the team ended up 17th out of the 18 teams. Also playing for the Wildcats were Maddie Reus, Sydney Ruth, Cara Smith and Sara Haydon. “This event …

Temporary substitute teachers hired by all St. Joseph County school districts will get a $5-per-day pay hike beginning this fall. The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Board of Education this week approved the pay scales for everyone from substitute teachers to fill-in maintenance workers. Temporary classroom substitute teachers will be paid $85 for a full day in the classroom …

A prosecutor says a southwestern Michigan man won’t face reckless driving charges after police say he posted videos online of himself driving up to 160 mph on an area highway. TV station WWMT aired videos of the man driving on US-131 that were posted on a Facebook page. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting says in a statement there are no witnesses …