A Colon resident who spent decades organizing the annual Walk For Warmth fundraiser was honored Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Nancy Percival, who indicated this past February’s Walk For Warmth would be her last, received a resolution from the county commission recognizing her dedication to the event. Walk For Warmth, staged for years at the county …

A Sturgis metal-finishing company was destroyed by fire early Tuesday. The Sturgis Fire Department responded shortly after 5 a.m. to Grav-I-Flow Inc., at 4000 Norwood Avenue. According to fire officials, they arrived to the scene and witnessed 30-foot flames shooting from the roof of the building. Due to the magnitude of the fire, assistance was rendered from three area agencies: …

Joetta Cherry of Sturgis was recently presented the C. David Anderson Award. The award is given annually by the Michigan Transition Services Association to an individual who works in the area of education or vocational rehabilitation. Cherry was selected for her support and promotion of transition services through leadership, advocacy and/or innovation. Cherry is a transition coordinator who has worked …

Did you know taking part in a walkathon is illegal in Michigan?  According to State Representative Kurt Heise, chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee, that’s what dance contests were called in the 1920’s and lawmakers back then saw fit back to outlaw them. The Plymouth Republican says it’s also against the law to dance to The Star Spangled Banner, …

Kathryn Louise Blood, age 69, of Three Rivers, passed away March 23, 2015 at her home. She was born on August 4, 1945 the daughter of the late John H. and Bernice L. (Mellor) Blood. Kathryn was a graduate of Three Rivers High School and was a long time employee of Wendy’s in Three Rivers. She is survived by sister, …

If it weren’t for friends on LinkedIn, I would have forgotten that this month marks nine years of doing the “Out and About” column. The column has changed a bit since the first column in April 2006, but my enthusiasm for putting it together has only grown. There never seems to be a lack of things to comment on and …

Harold E. Johnson, 69, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Three Rivers Health, following an extended illness. He was born April 25, 1945, in Three Rivers, a son of Raymond and Mary Alice (Raver) Johnson. In his early life, he lived in the Wasepi and Nottawa area and attended school there. He was a resident of White …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education voted Monday on a number of measures that will cut more than $550,000 from its $6 million budget. The votes include the backing of an administrative reorganization that will create a K-12 principal position and be based at Colon Elementary School, and a dean of students who will also hold the …

Two matters related to Enterprise Drive will be fielded by the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. A contract for the Enterprise Drive pavement reconstruction and construction engineering related to the roadway will be handled by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners during their 6 o’clock meeting at city hall. Also on the agenda is an $89,000 proposal for a water …

Dawn Elizabeth Barrett, age 53, of Athens, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Dawn was born May 15, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Mich., a daughter to Gary and Corinne (Dutterer) Malinoski. Dawn graduated from high school and furthered her education at cosmetology school. On Nov. 24, 1979, she married Lyle Barrett in …