Attendance for Saturday’s second Colon Historic Home and Business Tour was down compared to the inaugural event in 2011. Still, co-organizer Sherry Engle said the 10-stop, self-guided tour managed to raise funds to help the Colon-based Community Historical Museum cover costs related to repairs around the building’s steeple. The tour featured four houses, four businesses, a church and the historical …

The St. Joseph County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is offering the chance to win one of three weather radios, awarded daily at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Registration slips are available at the Emergency Management/Homeland Security display near the southwest corner of the racetrack. Officials from the agency said three tickets will be drawn daily at …

Authorities say a 58-year-old man is charged in the death of his 56-year-old ex-wife, whose body was found inside her southwestern Michigan apartment. Kalamazoo County’s Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein says the open murder charge was authorized Saturday against Clinton Edward Smith. He was jailed and scheduled for arraignment by video on Monday afternoon. The prosecutor’s office said Monday morning …

Two people were arrested Friday at a Colon Township residence after police discovered the production of methamphetamine. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit responded to a residence in the 28000 block of Bonham Road in response to a tip regarding suspected drug activity. SCAN unit members found an active, one-pot meth lab and a second inactive lab inside the …

Walter Lee McElvain, Jr., age 75, of Colon, died Sep. 14, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on June 21, 1938 the only son and oldest of five children born to Walter Sr. and Margaret (Meyers) McElvain. He graduated from Vicksburg Schools and served in the U.S. …

Wilma Ruth (Good) Hendricks, 90, passed away Sept. 11, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Jan. 3, 1923, in Kewanna, Ind., a daughter of Charles and Evie Good. She graduated from Star City High School and South Bend College of Commence in South Bend. She worked at Singer Sewing Machine Company, Weyerhauser in White Pigeon, Formed Tubes in Sturgis and Trio …

Vickie L. Black, 65, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital, following an extended illness. She was born April 16, 1948, in Sturgis, a daughter of Otis and Arlene (Easterday) Leister. She had been a resident of White Pigeon since 1967, coming from Sturgis. On Oct. 8, 1966, she married Russell L. Black in Sturgis. She …

Oma Pendergrass, 88, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013.  Oma was born in Hardy, Ark. on Oct. 27, 1924, the daughter of the late Robert and Lillie (Davis) Vardell. She was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Three Rivers. She enjoyed bird watching, shopping at Goodwill, country music and spending time with her dog …

The Three Rivers City Commission last week approved the purchase of new tubing, fittings, tees and leak-detection sensors. The work, including the rebuilding of all regulators, is designated for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in response to a recommendation by the Chlorine Institute and the equipment manufacturer, which suggest the annual replacement and maintenance. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners authorized $16,000 …

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced it has updated information on its website regarding the safety of 4,422 state highway bridges. State bridge information can be downloaded by route number and/or county, and are current as of Aug. 30. Only highway bridges greater than 20 feet in length are included; ratings for pedestrian, railroad and locally owned bridges are not …