Sturgis High School senior Cleanna Crabill was chosen as one of 16,000 academically talented students nationwide as a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. In order to qualify as a semifinalist, Crabill participated in the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen for program entrants. Her scores have placed her in the nationwide …

Christine Ellen Middling, 67, of Constantine, Mich., died on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at her home following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 12, 1947, in Three Rivers, Mich., the daughter of Howard and Lillian (Young) Steiner and was a Jones and Constantine area resident all of her life. She married John E. Middling on Dec. 12, 1964, in …

Robert O. Yandell, age 90, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at The Birches in Leonidas, MI. He was born March 18, 1924 in Norman, OK, the son of the late Willie and Ethel (Russell) Yandell. Bob grew up in West Los Angeles, CA. After attending University High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. …

Moving forward at a pace quicker than expected, a panel assembled to interview finalists for the appointed position of clerk and register of deeds will interview two finalists this week. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said Tabitha Wedge and Lindsay Oswald will return for second interviews Tuesday after they were a slate of five interviewed last week. …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit performed a series of compliance checks last week. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, the SCAN unit was aided by parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections to ensure individuals were in compliance with terms of their probation or parole. Nine addresses were visited during Thursday’s compliance checks. …

In light of freezing water service, the city of Three Rivers is suggesting residents begin a preventive measure and let water inside their residence trickle steadily until further notice. Residents who follow the suggestion should first contact either the city’s Department of Public Services or utility billing at city hall to advise of the plan. As a result, the city …

Sturgis city commissioners last week discussed a special-use request, currently before the city planning commission, which would create a rental duplex out of a single-family home. Opinions were split on whether the city should hold the line on duplexes to encourage more owner-occupied homes or expand residential rental opportunities. The commission will ask the planning commission to review current ordinances …

A campaign by Three Rivers Community Schools to promote a sinking-fund millage request in May kicked off this week. Superintendent Jean Logan said the district is seeking 1.95 mills over an eight-year period. If approved, the request would generate $1.25 million a year for building and site improvements, safety and security, and technology infrastructure. She said the sinking-fund request is …

Anyone who did not enroll in a health insurance plan during the Marketplace open-enrollment period may have a reprieve. The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have added a special enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and may be required to pay the shared responsibility …

Details about the St. Joseph County College Access Network were provided recently during a meeting of the St. Joseph County School Board Association. Tracy Harker and Claudia Pahls reported that the College Access Network, which stems from Sturgis Public Schools’ SUCCESS program and strives to help students find their way to college, is now a countywide program thanks to the …