St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering recently staged a news conference with her Calhoun County peer to promote a program called Step Forward Michigan. Ratering and Brian Wensauer were joined by Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Earl Poleski to tout the benefits of the state program. Ratering said she knows in St. Joseph County, a lot of hard-working homeowners …

State Rep. Aaron Miller said Michigan will continue steady economic growth after the House and Senate Appropriations committees received the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference report, which is the first look at the upcoming economic forecast. The report was compiled by the House and Senate Fiscal agencies and the state budget director. It predicts that Michigan’s recovery from the so-called Lost …

Leola Marjorie Johnson, age 99, formerly of Three Rivers, died Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 at Birches Adult Foster Care in Leonidas. She was born in her parents’ home, in Rockford on Aug. 31, 1918, the daughter of Adam and Ada (Zimmerman) Hammer. Leola was married to James Paul Johnson on the lawn of the family home in Rockford on Aug. …

Over the objections of prosecutors, a judge has sentenced a man to just five months in jail for cutting railroad safety wires in the Battle Creek area. Jeff Taylor is a former employee for Canadian National Railway who now runs an Upper Peninsula motel. His lawyer says Taylor had mental health problems and wasn’t targeting a specific train. Railroad crossing …

Beatrice A. Porath, age 64, of Marcellus, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2018. She was born June 18, 1953 in Dowagiac, the daughter of Ernest and Ellamae (Hibbard) Porath. Bea was retired from the Kalamazoo State Hospital as a Supervisor.  She loved horses and all her animals. She was the president of the 4-H Horse Leaders Association of Cass County and …

Marilyn Ruth Haney, age 81, died on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Per Marilyn’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no public services held at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Veronica Marie Hornblower, age 86, passed away Sunday, January 7th, 2018 at her home in Three Rivers, Michigan. She was born November 10, 1931 the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Watts in London, England. In 1953 Veronica was united in marriage to her beloved husband William Hornblower. Together they raised six children living in multiple locations, eventually settling down in Three Rivers in 1971. She worked many years in …

The company hoping to develop a solar farm in St. Joseph County has completed its analysis of the proposed project and is ready to move forward. Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy is eyeing between 150 and 200 acres in Mendon Township to develop what it is calling the White Pine Solar Project, a 20-megawatt project that company officials said will generate more …

Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members are preparing for the possible resignation of superintendent Jean Logan. The board staged a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the situation and the process of finding an interim superintendent. Logan, who is in her fifth year as Three Rivers superintendent, has not indicated where she is seeking employment. Board members, however, are …

Fire destroyed a garage and two vehicles earlier this week in Burr Oak. Firefighters were called around 3 p.m. Tuesday to a home in the 500 block of Burrwood Drive and were able to keep fire from entering the home. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, though authorities said the blaze does not appear to be …