Three Rivers officials plan to address four matters of new business tonight. One item includes bridge-related upgrades on 5th Avenue over Portage River; West Broadway Street over St. Joseph River; and West Hoffman Street over Rocky River. Other agenda items include mill and fill street projects for 2023, general street improvements and a matter related to cemetery ribbons. There are …

St. Joseph County Grange Fair officials say they are ready for the start of the annual, seven-day event. Led by Mindy Timm, marketing director for the St. Joseph County Grange Fair, the annual media luncheon Thursday provided a detailed overview of the 2022 fair. Timm said food vendors, animal barns and commercial barns open at noon Sunday, designated as “Family …

Allan and Trudy Murk of Centreville have been honored by the Centreville Lions Club with a Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the civic group. The couple was surprised Wednesday at the club’s September meeting when the award was announced in front of a group of family and friends. Lion Pattie Bender told the group gathered at the …

Authorities are investigating a fire originating from a bathroom Wednesday at Mendon Middle/High School. Mendon Community Schools Superintendent Leasa Griffith-Mathews said the incident was reported at 9:30 a.m. and was confined to a boys’ bathroom. She said the school’s fire-drill protocol was implemented and all students evacuated safely. Staff and administrators moved all of the building’s 270 students to bleachers …

A fundraising effort to construct a memorial pavilion shelter is being spearheaded by the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. The memorial is to honor Jerry Waltke, Fair Board president in 2021 and a 13-year Fair Board director. Before that, Waltke had been involved in the fair for decades. He passed away unexpectedly in November. Fair officials said his granddaughter, Brynleigh …

The Division of Health Sciences at Glen Oaks Community College has announced two new nursing faculty members: Melissa Blair and Lisa Cripe. Blair, a Coldwater resident, worked as an emergency room nurse for 15 years and is the owner of Premier Health Education LLC, which provides health education, such as CPR classes, to the community. Cripe, a Sturgis resident, is …

A Sturgis woman was sentenced this week to two years in prison for a drug-related offense. Taja Rogers, 28, could have been ordered probation only had she not skipped a court date for her sentencing to a charge of methamphetamine earlier this year. St. Joseph Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman, however, said in light of her missed court date March 17, …

Centreville Public Schools is moving forward with a plan to consider installation of HVAC systems at its elementary and jr./sr. high buildings. Board of education members Monday authorized architect/engineer firm TowerPinkster to proceed with plans centering on a scope of work. Board president Jeff Troyer said TowerPinkster has blueprints of both buildings and will proceed with developing plans. Eventually, it …

Three Rivers Police Department is working with Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team to investigate a residential explosion over the weekend. Three Rivers Chief Scott Boling said police and firefighters were called around 11:45 p.m. Sunday to a location in the 1500 block of Eighth Street in response to a structure fire. Upon further review, however, firefighters discovered an explosion …

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced a human case of Influenza A in the state. MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are urging prospective fairgoers in St. Joseph and Hillsdale counties to take precautions where swine may be exhibited. The case was confirmed Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …