The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use extra caution beginning this weekend, as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will head back to state roadways to pick up litter. Participants in the MDOT program will clean highway roadsides at various times between Saturday and July 24 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year. MDOT officials said Adopt-A-Highway …

The recent drawdown of the St. Joseph River to allow for maintenance work at the Sturgis Dam near Centreville forced the St. Joseph County Conservation District to cancel its scheduled river cleanup event last weekend. With water levels more than three feet lower than usual, the St. Joseph River cleanup between River Run and Angevine roads will not take place. …

Three Rivers Health is sponsoring its fifth annual Health Fair this weekend inside its Health TRAC facility. Organizers said the event, a benefit for the St. Joseph County United Way, runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and will include food and giveaways. Health screenings will be offered for $15, with one-third of the cost benefitting the United Way. Screenings …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the latest round of office-hour sessions in the 59th House District. Miller said he will host the informal gatherings July 25 at three area locations: Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee in Sturgis, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Rachael’s on East Chicago Road in White Pigeon from 9:30 to 11 a.m.; and The Town Fryer …

A Michigan sheriff pledged Tuesday to review his department’s guidelines for transporting suspects charged with violent crimes after an detainee who was cuffed in front rather than behind his back wrested a gun from a deputy and killed two court bailiffs. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey initially told reporters that Larry Darnell Gordon wasn’t handcuffed at all Monday during the …

Claribelle Elizabeth Jonker, age 102, of Three Rivers, died on Monday, July 11, 2016 at Three Rivers Health where she had been a patient for 3 days. She was born in Centreville, Mi on April 13, 1914 the daughter of Issac Walter and Elizabeth Ann (Ash) Major. She worked as an au pair before graduating from Three Rivers High School. …

Eileen K. Yancy, age 68, of Marcellus, passed away at home unexpectedly Monday, July 11, 2016. She enjoyed traveling everywhere- especially to Florida each winter with her friends, staying busy doing yard work, working on puzzles, spending time at the lake and spending time with her grandkids. She is survived by her one son Scott (Lisa) Bainbridge of Marcellus; one …

Jimmy Berlin “JB” Whitt, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 10, 2016, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, surrounded by his loving family. JB was born Aug. 21, 1960, in Morehead, Ky., a son of the late Berlin and Thelma (Winkleman) Whitt. He moved to Sturgis as a child and was a lifelong resident. On Aug.13, 1990, …

APPOINTMENT PROCESS EXPLAINED There seem to be some misconceptions regarding the appointment of the St. Joseph County Clerk and Register of Deeds. Here is an explanation of the process that took place prior to my retirement on June 30, 2015 regarding the appointment of Lindsay Oswald. It is the duty of the Circuit Judge to make the appointment of the …

“The customer is always right” is a phrase that has been around for years. Ninety percent of the time, it’s the truth. Let’s concentrate for a moment on the other ten percent. The uninformed might become extremely upset because they were told that they were not allowed to bring outside food or beverages into an eating establishment. The customer thought …