The next step for a water trail master plan will be a discussion by county officials next week. Representatives from St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources announced the master plan will be a part of the agenda during next week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Though the public comment stage of the process has already passed, additional questions or comments …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees agreed last week to support the existing slate of officers for another year. David Allen will remain chairperson and Nancy Percival will remain vice-chairperson. Bruce Gosling continues as treasurer and James Moshier will remain secretary. The board also voted unanimously to extend the contract of Glen Oaks president David Devier for one more …

A merger between two banks – one with four area branches – has been announced by respective officials. Horizon Bank will merge with Peoples Federal Savings Bank. Peoples has branches in Howe and LaGrange in Indiana, and two in Three Rivers. Horizon does not have any branches in the vicinity. Headquartered in Michigan City, Ind., Horizon has been in an …

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes said the city’s ability to seek bids early for this summer’s major reconstruction of East West Street may be largely responsible for saving 23 percent on the project’s cost. The street was initially constructed in 1922 and its current condition made it a priority for reconstructing 2,600 feet of street surface and replacing more than …

Patricia Joan Johnson, age 69, of Colon, passed away, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Sturgis Hospital. Patricia was born May 31, 1945, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Lynn and Avis ( Kimble) Haskins. On July 2, 1961, she married Buckshot ( Gail) Johnson. They met at the age of 12 and were high school sweethearts and were married …

Robert E. Brown, age 83, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away early Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 2015, at his home. He was born Sept. 6, 1931, in Sturgis, Mich., son of the late Charles and Irene ( Bordner) Brown. Bob was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Burr Oak area and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

This winter’s icy grip has some in the Michigan Legislature arguing once again that the state should allow schools more than six days for closures before they must make up the time. Schools are required by state law to provide at least 175 days of instruction each school year. Schools can be closed for up to six days, or the …

Edward Lee Kelly, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, February 20th, 2015 at the Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. Edward was born in Brookhaven, MS on January 17, 1942, a son of Della Mae (Kelly) Humphries.   On January 6, 1967, he married Delores Trull in Three Rivers.  Edward graduated from Constantine High School in 1963 and continued on to take welding …

Sharon Marie Jansen, age 74, of Three Rivers passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at her home. She was born in Centreville, MI on March 28, 1940 the daughter of Edward J. Bungart and Pearl Elma (Bickle) Bungart Wetherbee. Sharon has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She was united in marriage to John Micheal Jansen in 1959, …

A funeral mass was held Saturday in Kalamazoo for former U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen who died Tuesday. During his 30 years on the federal bench, the 83-year old Enslen ruled on a number of major cases in Michigan, one of which changed high school athletics. Enslen held that under Title IX of federal law guaranteeing equal education between the sexes, Michigan …