Seizure of 83 marijuana plants in Flowerfield Township marked the biggest single haul of the day for the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit during a countywide sweep Wednesday. The agency, in conjunction with a Michigan Air National Guard helicopter, was able to destroy a total of more than 200 marijuana plants grown in difficult-to-spot areas without the benefit of …

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June increased over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.7 percent, according to state officials. According to the data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), the state’s labor force rose by 21,000 in June as total employment advanced by 9,000 and the number of unemployed increased …

Sue Dearduff, age 64, of Sturgis, died Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis. She was born Feb. 22, 1949, in Sturgis, to Vernie C. and Dorothy B. (Merchant) Saddison. She was previously employed at Javelin, Kenco and Multiplex as a laborer. She enjoyed spending time with her family, woodworking, crafts, baking and spending time at the lake. …

My name is Tealy and I am a female, black lab mix with a white speckled chest, which is very cute and I weigh about 32 pounds. I have a small frame and am about 10 months old. At first I am a little shy but I warm up quickly. I really like playing with toys. My owner wanted to …

Last weekend’s cleanup of a portion of the Portage River netted about 400 pounds of debris. A 4.3-mile stretch of the river from North Fisher Lake Road to Carpenter Road in Park and Lockport townships was the focus of the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s third of seven river cleanups this summer. Jen Miller, administrator of the Centreville-based agency, said …

Three new members of the Three Rivers Fire Department were pinned during Tuesday’s city commission meeting. Marcellus High School alum Bradley Spears received his pin from his wife, Chelsey; Kyle Rice, an Army veteran, chose to receive his pin from his father-in-law, Gary Bragg; and Three Rivers High School graduate Karl Armstrong was pinned by his father, Chris Armstrong, a …

Sturgis Public Schools hired three teachers this week. District officials during their Monday board meeting approved the employment of Darcy Ford, Megan Wait and Lauren Howell. Ford will teach Great Start Readiness Program at Jerolene School, while Wait and Howell will be assigned separate third-grade classes at Eastwood School.

Larry Matson was appointed by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners to the Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday. Matson, 67, served on the board from May through October last year to fill a term left vacant by the resignation of Ken Baker. Matson was topped by Diane Haley-Clay in November’s election for a one-year term as District 3 representative. Matson, who …

A Constantine woman was cited for failure to yield after she caused a two-car accident Monday morning in White Pigeon Township. State police said Lindsey Stone, 24, was driving south on Lutz Road when she failed to stop at U.S. 12. Her vehicle struck a westbound car driven by 36-year-old Tara Smith of Sturgis. Stone did not seek medical attention; …

An audit report of its 2012 fiscal year was the primary matter of business Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Dave Fisher, representing Jackson-based Rehmann CPA, said based on his company’s review, the county remains on solid financial ground. He noted the county’s largest operating fund had revenue in excess of $13.6 million last fiscal year. Its …