The Three Rivers Lions Club suffered a setback over the weekend, as a fire destroyed a storage shed owned by the local civic group. The fire was reported around 9 p.m. Saturday at the Sixth Avenue site. Lions Club officials said lost as a result of the fire were five boxes full of items for its Toys For Tots recipients; …

Lucille Heath, age 87, of Lake Wales, Florida, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 in Lake Wales. She was born in Vicksburg, Michigan on April 3, 1932 the daughter of the late Ray and Alta Briggs. She was married to Ronald Heath on Dec. 12, 1954 in Angola, Indiana. They resided in Richland, Michigan before moving to Florida in 1984. Lucille …

Violet J. Spence, age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton surrounded by her family. She was born in Knoxville, TN on June 4, 1931 the daughter of John R. and Mary O. (Crowe) Gentry. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1949. She was married …

A White Pigeon man was one of three people involved in an airplane crash over the weekend in Branch County. Patrick Murphy was at the control of the single-engine plane Saturday when it belly crashed at Branch County Regional Airport in Coldwater. Other occupants were flight instructor Edwin Shumway of Tekonsha and rear-seat passenger Richard Crepas of Kalamazoo. Authorities said …

Teresa Belote, superintendent of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, received a “highly effective” rating recently from ISD board members. The board also extended Belote’s contract for a year. The rating is based on evaluation at a closed session using the School Advance Administrator Evaluation, board president Liz O’Dell said. She further added that the ISD has appreciated Belote’s self-assessment, …

State police are investigating the theft of a campaign sign. The sign, promoting sheriff candidate Gordon Evilsizor, was stolen between Feb. 16 and this past Saturday. The sign was posted on the south side of U.S. 12, just west of Mann Road in Mottville Township, according to investigators.

Charges are being sought against a Battle Creek woman for weapons-related offenses, according to Sheriff Mark Lillywhite. The incident stems from a traffic stop Wednesday on M-60 near Haas Road in Mendon Township, where a deputy located a concealed weapon on the driver along with assorted jewelry in the vehicle. The driver was questioned and admitted to not owning the …

The village of Centreville and Nottawa Township have come to an agreement regarding Old Centreville Cemetery and will sign a contract soon, village staff said Tuesday after a recent council meeting. Under the agreement, the village and township will form the Old Centreville Cemetery committee, which will bear sole responsibility for maintenance and repair of the property at the corner …

Burger King in Sturgis closed Tuesday, five days earlier than its scheduled shut-down date. Robert Snyder, now former general manager of the Sturgis restaurant, said Tria Company of Battle Creek was closing the location and Saturday would be the last day. On Tuesday, however, he said he had been suspended from his duties as general manager and the entire staff …

A Nottawa Township resident and longtime county employee has filed paperwork for a run as county treasurer. Fifty-year-old Tammy Rigby, seeks to fill the slot of current treasurer Judie Ratering, whose term expires at the end of the year. Ratering announced in January she will not be seeking re-election. Rigby began working at the county treasurer’s office nine years ago. …