A small group of people attended a community forum Tuesday to hear more about Centreville Public School’s upcoming millage request. Led by Superintendent Rob Kuhlman at Centreville Elementary School, the forum covered details related to the district’s Nov. 5 request for 2.95 additional mills to generate $12.8 million over a 15-year period for building and technology improvements. The third of …

One of the top employers in Sturgis broke ground Tuesday for the largest expansion in its 70-year history. Officials from Burr Oak Tool staged a ceremonial event to mark the addition of a 120,000 square-foot assembly facility at the corner of South Nottawa Street and Bogen Road in Sturgis. Company representatives said the multi-million dollar investment is expected to create …

A Fort Wayne-based utility would like to remind its customers to beware of a scam by suspects looking for a quick and illicit windfall. Indiana Michigan Power is reporting some of its customers are being targeted by scammers who falsely represent themselves as company personnel. I&M officials said a threat to cut off electrical service is made if the potential …

Christine Hazel Smithers, age 96, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, October 09, 2013 at the Heartland Health Care Center. She was born in Hollywood, Missouri on November 6, 1916 the daughter of the late Oscar and Oma Travis. Mrs. Smithers was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Earl Smithers, and her son, William “Bill” Smithers …

Doralee (Powell) Kentner, 84, of Delta Township, passed away peacefully on Oct. 7, 2013. She was born June 13, 1929 on the 1837 homestead farm in St. Joseph County to Delbert and Edna Powell. She was the ninth of 10 children. Doralee attended the Maple Street one-room school for the first eight grades and graduated in 1947 from Constantine High …

Two people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges during a late-night execution of a search warrant Monday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit was called to the 62000 block of Constantine Road in response to suspected drug activity. SCAN officers found evidence related to the manufacturing and use of meth. A 22-year-old man was charged with operating …

Crews from the St. Joseph County Road Commission this week started work on a $100,000 upgrade of the Langley Covered Bridge. The task, slated to take two weeks to complete, focuses on replacing the upper portion of the bridge’s two-layer deck. Chris Minger, director of operations, said the bridge has a two-part floor, and the structure is at a point …

Brush pick up in the city of Three Rivers has reached its midway point. The city’s Department of Public Services began the pickup process Monday in the Third District. The effort continues today in the Fourth District and Thursday in the Second District. Brush will be picked up just one time this year, DPS officials said. Leaf pickup in the …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week agreed to two major purchases. In advance of winter weather, the city commission approved the purchase of 5,000 pounds of road salt. The $24,000 transaction will call for 60 percent of the salt to be delivered ahead of the season and the balance will be shipped later in the winter. Also, …

Summer held on for quite a long time. We are well into October, yet, at times, the temperatures have made it feel like late August. Every time I mow the lawn, I keep wondering if this might be the last time the grass needs to be cut for the season. That’s okay; this nice weather can stick around for another …