The St. Joseph County Conservation District is appealing to the public in hopes of generating funds toward a variety of programs it supports. The agency’s second annual golf outing takes place Friday at Klinger Lake Country Club. Opportunities exist for hole sponsorship and four-person teams of participants. Board member John Nelson said the second annual fundraiser has openings for hole …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education this month will debate the merits of a plan being pitched as a prospective money-maker for the district. The concept of owning a self-serve ice and water dispenser was discussed during the board’s May meeting. The device would be the first of its kind in Michigan and only the second in …

An additional use for a proposed, senior center has prompted Sturgis city commission to seek new maintenance assurances from St. Joseph County. County officials recently added a 1,100-square-foot adult day care space to the initial plan for the $2.6 million development, now called Community Enrichment Center. Plans show it added to the southwest corner of the proposed building that will …

Old National Bank closed its Constantine branch May 22, and donated the Wallace Norman Harvey and Jane Harvey Memorial Coin Collection to the village. It consists of coins in value of $1, $2.50, $5, $10 and $20, an 1862 dollar bill, Continental Army currency and a $300 bank note. ONB site manager Becky Foster presented the collection to village president …

Robert Wayne Johnson, age 83, of Constantine, passed away Friday, May 28, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Wayne was born on December 2, 1931 in Constantine to Ralph and Nellie (Carnes) Johnson. He graduated from Constantine High School in 1950 and also attended Glen Oaks Community College. Wayne later went on to serve in the U.S. Army. He was previously married to …

Caroline K. Staffen, 80, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at Three Rivers Health. Caroline was born July 13, 1934 in Hartford City, Ind. to the late Jay and Ici (Elliott) Drayer. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth and son, Kurt. Caroline is survived by her son, Timothy (Julie) Staffen; grandson, Landon K. …

A young Michigan man serving a life sentence for killing his grandfather at age 14 will get a new sentence and a chance at freedom, a judge said Friday. Dakotah Eliason, now 19, will be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 60 years, Berrien County Judge Scott Schofield said. “He’s pleased to have …

Michigan State Police officials say preliminary numbers show a drop in traffic deaths statewide during the Memorial Day holiday weekend compared with last year. Officials say eight people died in six separate crashes between 6 p.m. last Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday. That compares with 20 deaths in 19 crashes during the same period last year. The numbers reflect deaths …

Cash and jewelry were among the items taken from a residence during a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred last week in White Pigeon Township. Troopers from Michigan State Police were called to the 14000 block of U.S. 12, where a residence was burglarized between 5 a.m. May 21 and 9:30 p.m. May 22. Access was gained through a front door that …

The Centreville Public Schools Board of Education has agreed to offer Rob Kuhlman a one-year contract extension as superintendent. The decision was made Tuesday, when board members extended Kuhlman a salary of $80,200. With deferred compensation and cash in lieu of insurance, the district will pay $100,000 to retain Kuhlman for a sixth year in the 2015-16 academic year. Kuhlman’s …