Suspects in more than a dozen residential break-ins in a three-county region have been arrested, capping a seven-month investigation. St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said four people have been arrested and warrants for seven additional suspects are being sought. The cases stem from incidents in St. Joseph, Branch and Kalamazoo counties. Guns, money, jewelry and electronics are among the …

Constantine’s Downtown BrainStormers, along with Michigan Milk Producers Association, have announced plans to celebrate National Dairy Day. Free milk donated by the local MMPA will be offered 2 to 6 p.m. June 11 at Rotary Park, on North Washington Street, just north of the St. Joseph River. The promotion coincides with the Constantine Farmers Market, which also takes place 2 …

The St. Joseph County Office of Veterans Affairs has issued a media release, noting that St. Joseph County veterans and their families received more than $20 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2013. Benefits in the form of disability compensation, pension, education, insurance and indemnities were paid directly to the county’s veterans …

Tracey Lynn (Lewis) Butler, age 43, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the Borgess Medical Center. She was born in Vicksburg, MI.; the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas and Linda (Foster) Lewis. Tracey graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1988. She then furthered her education …

Jacqueline “Jackie” “Ma” Sayer (Niendorf-Forseman) passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Bronson Methodist Hospital after a brief illness. Jackie was born in Three Rivers on January 4, 1930 to Dr. and Mrs. CF and Merna(Rathburn)Niendorf, joining her big sister Patricia(Robert)Thompson, who survives. She resided in Three Rivers most of her life, graduating from Three Rivers High School in …

Governor Rick Snyder has signed into law legislation that will increase Michigan’s minimum wage to $9.25 per hour by 2018. Under the compromise bill, which received bipartisan support in both chambers of the state Legislature yesterday (Tue), the minimum wage will gradually increase from $7.40 to $9.25 per hour by 2018. Meanwhile, the rate for tipped employees will be 38 …

David B. Hunt, age 56, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away as the result of a car accident on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014. He was born June 24, 1957 in Dowagiac, MI the son of Jack and June (Tribbett) Hunt. He was a Three Rivers High School graduate. As a 15 year Army Veteran, he served with the 504th Parachute …

A 9-year-old Sturgis boy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a car last weekend in Constantine Township. A helicopter trying to fly the youth to a Kalamazoo hospital, however, resulted in damage to the AirCare ambulance. Constantine fire officials said the incident occurred around 10 a.m. Sunday in the 25000 block of Riverside Drive. Investigators said …

A faulty extension cord is believed to have been responsible for starting a fire last weekend in Sturgis. Sturgis fire officials said the blaze was reported at 9:50 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of South Monroe Street. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed smoke emitting from two second-floor bedrooms. The victims told firefighters they attempted to extinguish the fire on their …

A 16-year-old girl from Colon was found to be safe over the weekend, three days after she was reported missing. The Colon Police Department said the girl was last seen leaving Heartwood Renaissance Academy in Three Rivers around 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Police reported she was found Sunday morning in Three Rivers and returned to her residence later in the day. …