Southwestern Michigan authorities say a man accused of killing his girlfriend is back behind bars after escaping from jail. Kalamazoo County sheriff’s officials say the inmate had been in the county jail’s recreation area on Wednesday when he climbed fences and escaped. He ditched his jail-issued orange jumpsuit after getting free, but was found by authorities about a half-hour later …

Bette Anne (McJury) Gave went to be with her Lord and loved ones on September 15, 2018. This little red-headed girl came into the world on March 15, 1940 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Leon R. and Dorothy L. (Wagner) McJury. She was preceded in death by her father in 1942 and, by a later marriage, her parents Dorothy …

An essential component associated with redevelopment of the former Three Rivers Inn was solved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The board approved a resolution to authorize issuance of general-obligation bonds. The result will eventually be $3.6 million to help finance the conversion of the 100-room hotel into Commission On Aging headquarters and 46 senior-housing residences. Attorney …

A Sturgis woman was injured after the vehicle she was driving was struck by a semi Monday afternoon in Sturgis Township. Sheriff’s officials said the incident occurred around 1 p.m. on U.S. 12 near Shimmel Road, where an eastbound semi swerved into the westbound lane of U.S. 12 in order to avoid a fire truck parked on the shoulder of …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has taken a position on November’s ballot measure seeking the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. In a media release issued this week, the chamber said it is not endorsing the request primarily because area businesses are struggling to find qualified candidates for a number of jobs that are perpetually unfilled. The chamber’s …

Multiple agencies responded to a fire Monday at Nissley Disposal and Sturgis Towing – located at the former site of Carter Lumber – just south of Sturgis. The blaze resulted in considerable damage to one of the buildings. The fire was eventually brought under control with the aid of departments from Sturgis, Tri-Township, Burr Oak, Colon and White Pigeon. No …

State police troopers are investigating the theft of copper wire from an irrigation system in Park Township. The victim said the incident occurred between Sept. 1 and 15 in an area along Carpenter Road, between Heimbach and Edgerton roads, where electrical wire was cut from two spans of a nearby irrigation pivot. The incident was reported at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The White Pigeon Area Community Foundation – a geographic affiliate of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation – recently approved $4,500 in grant awards during its 2018 competitive-grant program. The Fund for White Pigeon, and the Richard and Mary Magee Fund, provided grant support to the White Pigeon Downtown Revitalization Association for the Tasty Nut Shop Window Restoration/plants project. Grant support …

After several months of debate, Sturgis city commissioners last week voted by a 5-4 margin on a second reading of an ordinance that would allow all five types of medical marijuana facilities. The five areas are growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers and safety-compliance facilities. Any of the five types would be allowed to locate in manufacturing districts, though provisioning centers …

An Indiana man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing his father in his parents’ southwestern Michigan home. A jury had convicted 33-year-old Joseph Craigo last month of first-degree murder in the March 2017 killing of 59-year-old Alan Craigo. The Cass County man was slain inside his home just north of the Indiana state line. Craigo claimed …