A lumber and building materials supplier is planning to open a new distribution center in northern Indiana and potentially hire about 70 people in the next couple years. Zeeland Lumber Operations says it will spend nearly $1.6 million to buy and equip a facility in Elkhart. The Zeeland, Mich.-based company says that site will allow an expansion of its business …

Former South Bend, Ind. resident Bette Eleanor Lisek, 84, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 in her residence. Mrs. Lisek was born Jan. 27, 1929 in South Bend, Ind. to the late Effie (Burkhart) and Fredrick H. Burke and had lived in Three Rivers since 1989 coming from Dearborn Heights. On June 18, 1949 in South Bend as …

The 163rd St. Joseph County Grange Fair is in the books, and organizers of the annual event said they expect attendance to be slightly down from 2012. Bill Younts, president of the fair board, said periods of rain during portions of three days of the seven-day fair may have kept prospective guests at bay. A shower Friday evening, he said, …

A 53-year-old Constantine man was arrested last week after he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle in Constantine Township. The man was arrested around 1:45 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Dickinson Road, where he was caught following a brief foot chase. The man had not only allegedly stolen the vehicle earlier in the night, …

Two Burr Oak Township residents were arrested and a third is being sought in connection with a methamphetamine case investigated by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. According to sheriff’s department officials, SCAN members on Friday executed a search warrant at a residence on Maple Lane after fielding a citizen’s tip. Investigators found meth production and stolen property, as …

The start of the 2013-14 school year marks the beginning of a new strategic plan for White Pigeon Community Schools. According to Superintendent Ron Drzewicki, the new strategic plan will be used to guide the district in decision-making as it makes improvements to the instructional program. Drzewicki likened the plan to a road map, as it will focus efforts on …

Juanita Leer, 72, of Elkhart, Ind., died Sept. 21, 2013, at her home following an extended illness. Visitation is from noon-2 p.m. Tuesday at the Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon where services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Interment will take place in East Union Cemetery, Union, Mich. Donations may be directed to the family.

A Dowagiac man died in a single-vehicle crash at 4am Sunday. The victim was identified as 22-year-old Dustin Kuseske. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says he lost control of his vehicle on Topash Street in Silver Creek Township and struck a utility pole.

Authorities say a weekend shooting at a house party near the campus of Western Michigan University left one person wounded. Police responded early Sunday to the shooting in Kalamazoo. Police say a 20-year-old Kalamazoo man was shot in the leg. Police say a 20-year-old woman also suffered a back injury, possibly from being hit with flying glass. Clint Parker, a …

Henry J. Stauffer, age 85, of Centreville, passed away Friday, September 20, 2013 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Nottawa Township, February 14, 1928, a son of Joseph and Lizzie (Bontrager) Stauffer. On September 21, 1950 Henry married Bertha Bontrager in Nottawa Township. He operated Stauffer Construction for 40 years and previously worked at Wheel Camper. Henry was …