Constantine Fire Chief Mike Haydon has received bids for a new fire department pumper-tanker. Haydon last week told village council members he has received bids of nearly $318,000 from Halt/Pierce Inc. and more than $285,000 from Rosenbauer for the purchase. Haydon said there is a 20- to 25-year life expectancy for the truck and its purchase comes with financing as …

Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan will not launch an investigation of Sturgis city zoning ordinances following the city’s rejection of a rental duplex for homeless individuals sought by Keystone Place. Bob Ells, executive director of the nine-county FHC, said FHC officials recently met with city representatives to review the Sturgis Planning Commission’s mid-March decision and FHC has no plans …

Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. reports that his office is investigating a homicide on Flanders Street in Wayne Township, which is east of the City of Dowagiac. Cass County Central Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a residence at 24639 Flanders Street at approximately 9:39pm Tuesday. The caller advised that there were shots fired in the residence and there …

Since returning home to Three Rivers in  1996, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those years I spent growing up here in my hometown. I long for those days when things seemed simpler. The downtown didn’t have any empty buildings. There were several shoe stores, cafes, ladies and men’s clothing shops, two active movie theaters, a couple of newspaper …

A Three Rivers Middle School faculty member was named the district’s 2015 Educator of the Year. During last week’s annual Senior Honors Night, Alicia Turner was announced as the recipient of the annual honor. Turner, a 10-year employee of the Three Rivers district, teaches middle school math. She previously was a fifth-grade teacher at Park Elementary. Committee members charged with …

A Mendon Township woman who heads the St. Joseph County Conservation District Board has called her four-day, 60-mile walk around St. Joseph County a success. Carol Higgins, who embarked Wednesday on the journey and finished Saturday at Colon Community Park, said she staged the event to bring awareness and potential funding to local conservation causes spearheaded by the Centreville-based agency. …

State police officials arrested a man connected to a case involving breaking-and-entering incidents and the theft of a motor vehicle in Leonidas Township. Troopers said breaking-and-entering incidents between midnight and 9 a.m. Saturday were reported in Branch County’s Sherwood Township as well as locations along Shorts Road and Factoryville Road in Leonidas Township. A minivan was reported stolen from one …

A small town in southwest Michigan is waiting eagerly to learn whether it set a world record with the construction of an 1,800 foot ice cream sundae.  Volunteers in Nashville worked for about 10 minutes Saturday assembling what organizers hope will be declared the world’s longest ice cream sundae. The sweet feat  included 192 scoops ice cream and countless amounts …

The mother of three Michigan boys missing since Thanksgiving 2010 says she now believes they’re dead.  Tanya Zuvers says she’s hanging on to a sliver of hope but she’s almost certain they’re dead.  The boys were last seen at their father’s home in Morenci, near the Michigan-Ohio border. Tanner Skelton was 5, Alexander Skelton was 7 and Andrew Skelton was …

Mr. Curtis “Skimp” Williams, 60, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Heartland Health Care Center. He was born in Independence, La., on Nov. 13, 1954 the son of the late Wesley and Henrietta (Brown) Williams. Curtis has been a longtime resident of this area. He worked in both manufacturing and agriculture. Skimp was an …