Melinda Lee Dale, age 51, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at her home. She was born July 5, 1967, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Earl Dean and Margaret (Crawford) Hammond, Sr. Melinda had resided in Sturgis for the past 18 years, coming from Three Rivers. Melinda was a homemaker who enjoyed camping and gardening, and …

The Michigan Department of Transportation and local agencies are enacting additional annual spring weight restrictions to protect roads. Effective today, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways from the Michigan/Indiana and Michigan/Ohio state lines north to and including the Mackinac Bridge. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations. County road commissions and city public …

Blue Gate Theatre in Shipshewana has announced plans for a new 1,500-seat, theater space at Blue Gate Performing Arts Center. The $3 million theatre is set to break ground before May and will be completed by January. The rapid expansion of the Blue Gate’s concert schedule, limitations of the current space and improving customer experience all played key roles in …

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of veterans, has announced that U.S. Rep. Fred Upton has become a cosponsor of the “Burn Pits Accountability Act” to improve the tracking and reporting of service members’ exposure to burn pits and airborne toxins during their deployments. Upton became a co-sponsor during IAVA’s “Storm The Hill,” IAVA’s …

The group “Voters Not Politicians” is hosting a series of Democracy Reform Town Halls to educate citizens about Michigan’s new redistricting process and how they can participate. The group will also discuss other critical democracy reform issues to strengthen the democratic process through citizen action in Michigan. In 2018, Michigan voters and Voters Not Politicians made history by passing a redistricting reform …

The staff here tell us that St. Patricks day is coming.  We have hung a shamrock hoping it will bring us luck getting a new home.  We were brought in together, but we could be adopted separately.  I am Aggie Marie, docket No. 45242.  I am the dark girl on the left.  We each are five years old.  They say …

Bonnie L. Levitz, 85 of Centreville passed away March 12, 2019 at Borgess Hospital.  She was born on August 14, 1933 in LaGrange, IN, a daughter of Walter and Lexie (Powers) Jennings.  Bonnie went to Springfield Schools, and later obtained her GED in 1985. In 1969, she married Raymond Wall in Howe; he preceded her in death on January 16, …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited St. Joseph County Monday, making stops in Three Rivers and Sturgis. In Sturgis, Whitmer presented “The Road to Opportunity,” a briefing on her fiscal year 2020 budget proposal. More than 20 community members attended the closed-session event at Sturgis Library. Whitmer said she presented her budget to the legislature last week and now she’s traveling around …

State police troopers are investigating damage to a business in Park Township. According to a department media release, a split-rail fence outside a business in the 52000 block of U.S. 131 was damaged between noon Saturday and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. The wood fence, which stood outside Stephenson Farm and Market, was damaged by a southbound vehicle that appears to have …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has introduced a measure to update and clarify counseling practices under Michigan law. Miller said updates are needed to ensure the law reflects the actual scope of practice and training of licensed professional counselors, and to be consistent with wording in the Board of Counseling’s Administrative Rules. This measure would be the first update to this …