With the passing of Memorial Day, we are officially into summer. Although summer doesn’t officially begin until June 22, the gentlemen may now wear their white shoes and the ladies may wear whatever they usually wear, without fear of embarrassment. Please don’t accuse me of slamming the ladies, but I really am not aware of what the style is for …

Ernest G. Willcocks II entered into the Gates of Heaven on June 2, 2013, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Ernie was lovingly surrounded by his wife, children, stepchildren and his michigan family who all gave thanks to God for blessing them with Ernie. Ernie was born July 10, 1946, in Cleveland, a son of Ernest G. Willcocks I and Eleanor (Depner). …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn is a finalist for the superintendent’s position with Portage Public Schools. Rathburn, who has been planning to retire from Three Rivers a year from now, is one of a trio of candidates for the Portage post currently held in an interim basis by Rob Olsen. Portage school officials have indicated first-round interviews will …

Fifty-five marijuana plants and equipment used to cultivate marijuana were removed over the weekend from a residence in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said officers patrolling the area around 9 p.m. Saturday noticed the smell of marijuana and traced the odor to a residence in the 32000 block of Custer Road. During a consensual search of the …

A Dowagiac teen is dead after suffering a self inflicted gunshot wound. Police were called to Dowagiac Middle School at 6:40 a.m. Monday morning, because a custodian saw a boy acting strangely outside the building. When police arrived 13-year old Darren James Price of Dowagiac ran into a wooded area near the school. Police surrounded the area, then heard a …

Sticker shock at the gas pump this week for Michigan motorists. Gas prices in the state jumped 22 cents since last week and are now averaging almost $4.10 a gallon. Triple A Michigan says the current statewide average is nearly 47 cents higher than at this same time last year. The average statewide price on Sunday was $4.06 per gallon …

A new state report says the number of traditional landlines in Michigan is continuing to fall and says cellphones now make up three-quarters of all phones. The report released Monday says there were 3.08 million landlines in Michigan in 2012, the most recent year available. That’s down 8 percent from 3.34 million in 2011. The landline total has fallen steadily …

Shelley Jean (Rinz)Buchanan, age 47, of Three Rivers, passed away late Sunday, June 2, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Jan. 17, 1966 in Three Rivers the daughter of Verner and Carole (Mechling) Rinz, of Three Rivers. Shelley graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class …

About 100 pounds of debris was removed from the Prairie River Saturday, thanks to the efforts of 10 volunteers. The St. Joseph County Conservation District on Saturday started the third year of its five-year campaign to clean all 150 miles of the county’s rivers. A 4.7-mile stretch of the Prairie River – from Hoshel Road to Lutz Road in Lockport Township …

Nearly 90 marijuana plants, an unspecified quantity of packaged marijuana and two handguns were seized from a Constantine residence last week. Three men were arrested at a residence in the 200 block of Florence Road following the culmination of an investigation executed Thursday by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Two additional men, including the homeowner, were found later …