Organizers of the two-day Centreville Covered Bridge Days said the festival went off without any glitches and the Friday night fireworks program was enjoyed by more than 1,000 people. Carole McClain, head of the Covered Bridge Days Planning Committee, said the Centreville Idol contest, the kiddie tractor pull, an old-car show and the event-ending parade all drew a good crowd …

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 28-year-old Demetrius Banks, who is suspected of the armed robbery of an employee at the Centreville Shell gas station last week. Banks, whose last known addresses were in Centreville and Three Rivers, allegedly robbed the station of an unknown amount of cash around 4:30 a.m. last Wednesday. Investigators are speculating Banks …

Sturgis police last week arrested a bond absconder who has a history of serious offenses, including manslaughter and attempting to disarm an officer. According to a department media release, the man attempted to flee from a residence in the 200 block of McKee Street after police attempted to make contact with him around 10 p.m. Thursday. The 42-year-old man, whose …

It appears Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn will finish his career with the district. Rathburn and Paw Paw Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bielang were the finalists for the job of superintendent of Portage Public Schools. Portage officials announced Friday afternoon their decision to offer the post to Bielang. The 50-year-old Rathburn made public last year he would be …

Marjorie Lucille Bauman, age 83, of Mendon, died Monday, June 17, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in LaGrange, IN on Dec. 22, 1929 the daughter of Stuart C. and Lennie (Diamond) Powers. Marjorie was married to Walter H. Bauman on Aug. 18, 1951 and operated a farm north of Mendon for 30 years. After retirement, …

Harriet M. Snyder, 87, of Constantine, died Thursday, June 20, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis, following an extended illness. She was born June 18, 1926, in Aberdeen, S.D., to Louise Lindemeier. She was a Constantine resident since 1958, coming from Paw Paw and spent her early life in Norwood, Minn. On March 1, 1947, she married Donald E. …

Zachery Scott Jacobs, 23, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013. He was born Dec. 22, 1989, a son of Scotty Douglas Jacobs and Catherine Lou Moore. He had been a resident of the Constantine area all his life. He was a graduate of Constantine High School in 2008. He enjoyed go-cart racing and his friends and …

Christine A. Timberlake, age 52, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday at her home. She was born July 11, 1960, in Kendallville, Ind., a daughter of the late James W. and Hannah (Combs) Timberlake. Christine was a homemaker and a resident of Sturgis most of her life. She was first married LaWayne Shepherd in 1981. This marriage ended in …

Ethel Arlene Velie, age 85, of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday morning, June 19, 2013, at Thurston Woods Villa. She was born Feb. 16, 1928, in Bear Lake a daughter of the late Ray and Gerana (Holcomb) Druce. Ethel moved to this area in 1949 and on July 11, 1963, she married Philip R. Velie in White Pigeon. He preceded …

After a ten-year hiatus, Glen Oaks Community College is pleased to announce it has recently completed maintenance and restoration work on three of the six tennis courts on campus and they are now open for public use. “Our maintenance crews patched up quite a few cracks, some of which were pretty severe,” said Bruce Zakrzewski, dean of finance and administrative …