St. Joseph County is home to a state championship sports team. The Centreville Bulldogs claimed the school’s first-ever state title in softball Saturday by beating No. 2-ranked Coleman High School by a score of 5-to-2. Centreville advanced to the Division 4 title game by topping Unionville-Sebewaing, 4-to-0, Friday. Both games were played in East Lansing at Michigan State University. Centreville, …

From its opening-night parade Thursday to the event-ending soap box derby Sunday, the 2018 Three Rivers Water Festival will go down in the books as a success. Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christy Trammell said the 62nd annual community celebration got off to a strong start with a parade that was as well-attended as she can remember. …

Three Rivers Health joins other healthcare organizations in celebrating Healthcare Risk Management Week Presented by The Risk Authority Stanford, June 18-22, 2018. This annual campaign from the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management raises awareness about the critical role risk managers and safety professionals play in patient safety and patient care practices, quality assurance, safe work environments and liability. It …

Mrs. Zelma Mae Castle, age 94, of Three Rivers, passed away early in the morning on Friday, June 15, 2018 at Three Rivers Health. She was born December 12, 1923 in Goshen, Indiana the daughter of the late Henry W. and Iva E. (Albin) Davidhizar. She graduated from Marcellus high school in 1941. In 1942 she married the love of …

Hazel Janell Markus, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Friday, June 15, 2018, with cherished family members by her side. Hazel was born Sept. 9, 1928, in Grove Hill, Ala., although spent the majority of her younger years in the Mobile area. On Dec. 6, 1952, Hazel married Edward Louis Markus of Colon while Edward was stationed as a …

Harold LaVerne Moyer, age 95, passed away peacefully Friday, June 15, 2018. Harold was born Aug. 16, 1922, to Ezra and Myrtle (Noel) Moyer. He graduated from Constantine High School in 1940. He entered International Business College in Fort Wayne, where he later was employed by General Electric Company. In February 1943, he was drafted into the Army’s 62nd medical …

Firefighters from several departments battled an early morning house fire Thursday in Cass County’s Porter Township, just outside Mottville. The fire was reported just after 5:30 a.m., when the residents were awakened by smoke. The occupants and their pets were able to flee the home, which was declared a complete loss. The cause of the fire is unknown at this …

The leader of the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority the past 10 years has announced he will be retiring next month. Steve Yorks, who joined the agency in 2008 after previously working as transportation director for Three Rivers Community Schools, will stay on board through the end of July. In the meantime, he will train his replacement, Susan Vosmik, who …

A motion regarding medical marijuana facilities failed Wednesday on a tie vote by members of the Sturgis City Commission. Language of the ordinance they were considering would have allowed provisioning centers in manufacturing and commercial zoning areas that were not within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, public parks or residential areas either inside or outside of the city. A dozen audience members spoke …

Three people were injured in a two-car accident last week on U.S. 131 in Lockport Township. Sheriff Brad Balk said the incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Wilbur Road, where a Ford Escape, driven by 20-year-old Juan Hernandez-Espinoza, ran a red light traveling west and struck a southbound minivan, driven by 66-year-old Gary Russell. The …