Violet Aleda Pierce, age 88 of Mendon went to meet the Lord on Tuesday June 25, 2013 after a courageous battle with A.L.S. She was born in Morley, IA on Feb. 24, 1925 the daughter of John H. and Mary (Fischer) Butschi. She was married to Floyd Pierce in April of 1942. He died in March of 1968. While in …

Lester C. “Butch” Westphal, 67, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, June 23, 2013 in Three Rivers Health. Butch was born June 3, 1946 in Jones to Lester and Gertrude (Tank) Westphal. He married Lois June Hunsberger in 1965 in Cassopolis. She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents. Butch was the head of a close knit family whom …

I’d like to make one more comment on this year’s Water Festival. Last week I gave sort of a review on the Festival from my perspective, but there seem to be a few who are still upset about the cancelling of the Saturday Main Stage entertainment and fireworks. The Water Festival committee did not cancel anything. The fireworks company cancelled …

An 87-year-ol Constantine man was not injured after he drove into a farm vehicle last week in Florence Township. Michigan State Police said George Cole was cited for disobeying a stop sign after he struck an ATV driven by 74-year-old Paul Steffel, of Sturgis. Steffel was thrown from his ATV and was treated at Sturgis Hospital for minor injuries. Steffel …

A 16-year-old Three Rivers girl has returned home after she was reported missing June 14. Three Rivers Police said they received contact from Aleah Means Friday evening, a week after she was believed to be in Kalamazoo with a 21-year-old man. Police have not provided information about where she spent the week, though they noted Means left Three Rivers on …

Last weekend’s Three Rivers Relay for Life event was a success, as event organizers said they surpassed their goal by a slim margin. Danielle Rohrer, 2013 relay for Life chairperson, said this year’s goal was $132,000, and toward the conclusion of the 24-hour event, it surpassed the goal by more than $1,600. A small amount of additional pledge dollars are …

Members of the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County are making a public appeal for donations to help control the population of feral and free-roaming cats within the county. The number of feral and free-roaming cats in the county is at a crisis level, according to ARF members, who are soliciting $10 donations from the public to help cover …

Reconstruction of the tennis courts at Three Rivers High School is underway, as Southern Michigan Bank & Trust has been selected to provide the loan for the project. In action at last week’s Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education meeting, members adopted a resolution for an installment purchase agreement with SMB&T for a loan in excess of $550,000. Homer-based …

New legislation in Lansing would allow municipalities to bill people who’ve been rescued after taking unnecessary risks during a declared state of emergency.  Two lawmakers say their bills are a response to people recently taking risks like kayaking and using jet skis on flooding rivers in the Grand Rapids area.  One bill would let local governments seek reimbursement when those …

About 100 people gathered for a vigil at the site where a northern Indiana teenager was killed over the weekend in what police say was a drive-by shooting. Relatives and friends of 16-year-old Braxton Barhams of Elkhart said Sunday that his death has them more worried about violence in the city. Resident Shanea Salls tells WNDU-TV that it is sad …