Constantine resident Rebecca Shank, who lives at 385 S. Washington St., was presented with the Meek’s Mill Garden Club’s Community Beautification Award for June. Shank, who has lived in the house for two years, refinished the original oak hardwood floors and has done extensive electrical and plumbing upgrades. Work now centers on a rec room in the basement. Shank’s home …

Two area communities will celebrate Independence Day with parades and other related fanfare. The 4th of July in Colon will be celebrated Monday with activities split between downtown on Blackstone Avenue and further west at Colon Community Park. The holiday parade starts at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, the Colon Historical Museum will be open 1 to 3 p.m. Also, a variety …

The cost for hot lunch in Sturgis Public Schools is going up. Business manager Ray Sterling said the district is required to raise lunch prices due to the Federal Paid Lunch Equity Program. The district next year plans to raise prices the minimum amount required, which is 5 cents per lunch. That makes the price at the high school, middle …

Meow! “We are three little kittens who don’t need mittens, we need a home to live. Come in and see us, hug us and squeeze us, and see how much love we can give.” We are about 7-1/2 weeks old and will be ready for adoption by July 5th. We are very sweet and what is cuter than a kitten? …

Sturgis Township’s contracted zoning administrator is recommending adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code. Randy Schmeling recently told the Sturgis Township Planning Commission that the rules would give township officials more tools to address structurally compromised homes and buildings. Ultimately, he said, the measure is geared more toward making a structure safe. Examples he referenced include structures open to animals, …

Constantine Village Council members recently discussed a request by residents Charlie and Beth Cauffman to keep six so-called urban chickens in their yard. Charlie Cauffman told the commission chickens help control the bug population and there is an additional benefit from the eggs the chickens produce. Village manager Mark Honeysett reminded the council he once had to send a letter …

A graduation party June 18 in the Sturgis area is suspected of being the source of foodborne illness that affected six people. According to Steve Andriaachi, environmental health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, a member of the family with food-service background catered the party. There has not yet been a laboratory report completed to determine what caused the …

The Constantine Fire Department last week took delivery of its newest equipment addition, a 2016 Rosenbauer pumper/tanker fire truck. The truck has a 3,000-gallon water capacity. It replaces a 1993 truck that had a 1,000-gallon tank. Cost of the new truck is $315,000. Its expense will be shared by the village of Constantine, Constantine Township and Florence Township. The truck …

Authorities say commercial lawn equipment, farm implements and construction equipment are being targeted by thieves in Michigan. State police Detective Sgt. Todd Petersen tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that dealerships, with large lots and sometime lax security, are frequent targets of theft in Three Rivers, Cass County, Coldwater and other areas along southern and southwestern Michigan. Petersen says such equipment is …

L. Marie Dimmick, age 95, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Three Rivers resident and graduate of Three Rivers High School with the class of 1938, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 28, 2016, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Aug. 3, 1920, in Three Rivers, a daughter of the late Fredric and Flossie (Davison) Miller. On Aug. 16, 1940, she …