The city of Sturgis has announced a drawdown of the reservoir area upstream of its dam and hydroelectric plant on the St. Joseph River near Centreville. Municipal officials said the drawdown is expected to impact the river by lowering water levels in an area from the dam upstream to the village of Mendon. Water levels are expected to rise downstream …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Executive Director Lynn Coursey announced last week her resignation from the Three Rivers-based agency. Coursey had served in the capacity for 13 years. She said she is pursuing other opportunities, and added she is proud of the COA’s current visibility as a result of its efforts the past 13 years.

Two 14-year-olds have been injured after the golf cart they were in was struck by a pickup truck in southwestern Michigan. Cass County sheriff’s officials say that the collision occurred about 6:25 p.m. Saturday when a girl operating the golf cart failed to yield the right of way to the pickup in Porter Township. The teens in the cart were …

Six west Michigan teens are jailed in connection with the theft of a pair of $2,000 designer sunglasses outside a Battle Creek gas station. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that a 22-year-old man told police he was in a parking lot when his Cartier sunglasses were taken at gunpoint. The man called 911 as he drove after the group when …

Janet (Breece) Jarratt, age 84, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at her home. She was born February 14, 1932 in Cassopolis a daughter of Raimond and Kathryn (Simpson) Breece Sr. Janet graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1950. On February 25, 1951 she married Duane Jarratt Sr. in Three Rivers. He preceded her in death February …

Tracy M. Norton, age 48, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, after a short bout with cancer. Tracy was born June 2, 1968 in Coldwater a daughter to John and Rosemarie S. (Comport) Honyoust. She grew up in Union City, graduating from Union City High School with the Class of 1986 and …

Elizabeth (Betty) Jane Cisco, 91, of Scottville, passed away on June 26, 2016 at Tendercare of Ludington. Betty was born on Dec. 31, 1924 in Chicago, Ill. She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Myrtle Busch. Betty attended Marcellus High School. She was married to Raymond Cisco. She was a homemaker and loved her children and animals. She …

The city of Sturgis has identified areas targeted for its road and sidewalk improvements this summer. The locations are: Cottage Street, from South Nottawa to South Lakeview; Walker Street, from South Fourth to South Lakeview; Forest Avenue, from South Centerville to Prairie; White Street, from West South to the south driveway access to the Meijer store; Congress Street, from South …

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 …