The St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department has announced the winners of the annual Meyer Broadway Park scarecrow contest. The displays were one of many attractions at the park as a part of the Oct. 13 Three Rivers Area Fall Color Tour. A variety of categories were in place and winners were: funniest, “The Three Rivers” by Andrews Elementary …

James Ware Brandon died Oct. 29, 2013.  He was born March 23 1947, in Hartford City, Ind., was a member of the Nottawa community for 43 years and was owner of Nottawa Gas Company. Jim had a ticker that counted the number of smiles he could create in a day. No prank was over the line and he was no …

A stream of southbound vehicles Wednesday morning was the first group of vehicles to travel the now-open U.S. 131 Constantine Bypass. A ceremony to commemorate the completion of the $18 million task was staged two weeks ago, so the opening was done Wednesday without fanfare. Traffic to the northbound lane was permitted about half an hour later, around 11 a.m., …

A 23-year-old Sturgis man was arrested following his role in an assault incident Tuesday in Sturgis. Investigators said police responded to a call for help at an apartment in the 300 block of North Clay Street regarding an assault in progress. The suspect was gone by the time officers arrived, but he was found around 8:30 later that night inside …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has announced it is hosting a Community Emergency Response Team class starting next month. Sheriff Brad Balk said the CERT class educates program participants about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact the area. Balk said participants are trained in basic, disaster-response skills such as fire safety, search-and-rescue, team organization and disaster-medical operations. The …

The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in trying to find the party responsible for a malicious destruction of property incident in Sturgis Township. The incident occurred between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday at the drive-up window at Hot and Now restaurant on South Centerville Road.

The Sturgis varsity soccer team saw its best season ever come to an end Wednesday in Plainwell. The Trojans, who were making their first-ever appearance in the Class B Final Four of the state tournament, bowed out to Spring Lake, 2-to-1. The game was tied at1 going into the final minute of play before the Lakers sealed the win on …

The preliminary examination set for Thursday in the matter of People vs. Andy Brown has been adjourned until next week. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office said the matter will be delayed until 8:30 a.m. next Wednesday before Judge Jeff Middleton. The preliminary exam will determine whether enough evidence exists to bind the case to circuit court for trial. Brown …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission last week approved tax-break requests for three businesses. The requests for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificates were granted to Mayer Tool and Engineering, Americraft Carton and Burr Oak Tool. Mayer Tool’s request was for a 12-year abatement of almost $55,000 on the purchase of new equipment. Americraft Carton sought $6.2 million was for new equipment …

In last week’s column, I told about a trip that we made up north to the West Branch area, and I mentioned specifically about visiting the small town of Fairview, which was where many of my aunts, uncles, grandmother, and cousins lived during my childhood years. This trip back affected me in a way that I’ve never been affected before. …