City of Sturgis officials are reminding motorists about the detours in place as a result of the reconstruction of North Centerville Road. Detour signs were placed last week at West Chicago Road and Progress Street diverting traffic to Broadus Street. Construction will span from West Chicago Road to the railroad track just south of Progress Street. A complete rebuild …

  The Constantine Village Council has endorsed the concept of a proposed employee handbook for the community’s fire department. Fire Chief Mike Haydon said he learned its insurance company’s Risk Management Department required a handbook after several part-time employees were hired. Haydon said he would put an adopted date on the handbook once he got approval from the three municipalities …

Evelyn Charlotte Caniff, age 97, of Three Rivers, died Friday, Aug.22, 2014 at Terry Graber’s home in Constantine. She was born in Midlothian, IL on Jan. 21, 1917 the daughter of Homer C. and Emma A. Hulbert. Evelyn was married to Albert R. Caniff on Jan 31, 1942 and they later made their home in Three Rivers. Evelyn was a …

Jerry Eugene Sangalli, age 81, of Three Rivers, MI., passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2014 at the Bronson Methodist Hospital surrounded by his loving family following a brief illness. Jerry was born on January 12, 1933 in Three Rivers, MI., the son of the late Battista and Erminia (Catto) Sangalli. Jerry graduated from Three Rivers High School and later …

  The July unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by eight-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.9 percent July unemployment rate was more than June’s 6.1 percent. Its July unemployment rate, however, was 2.8 percent less than the same …

  The Three Rivers Department of Public Services wishes to give advance notice about its upcoming hydrant-flushing process. Hydrants citywide will start being flushed Sept. 3. The activity is expected to continue through the end of the month, weeknights from 11 until 5 o’clock the following morning. The department asks residents to please be aware that some rusty water may …

  A crowd of more than 150 people attended Friday’s second annual Local Food Festival, hosted by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Staged at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, the event featured a four-course meal of food grown locally from 23 different sources. John Farrand, from the Sturgis Boundary Waters Café, and Janelle Baranic, food service director at the …

  The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week gave approval to the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce for a special event to be staged next year. As a part of the chamber’s “Discover the Treasures of St. Joseph County” program, the courthouse will provide the setting for a murder-mystery dinner. In response to the request from chamber …

L.D. Ballman, age 86, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 at Fairview Living and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. He was born in Mendon on Feb. 13, 1928 the son of John J. and Mary Anna (Shaw) Ballman, and attended Mendon Schools. He worked on the family farm before joining the Army Air Corps. L.D. was married to Norene Mae Umlor on …

Michigan’s apple growers will harvest nearly 29 million bushels of apples this year, according to the official crop estimate announced Friday at the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago. Officials say the 28.74 million bushels estimate is in line with the 2013 crop, which was a record size crop of 30 million bushels. Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, says …