The state of Michigan won’t enforce a law that blocks local government officials from talking about a ballot question before an election, under a deal approved Thursday by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge John Corbett O’Meara stopped the law in February with a preliminary injunction, saying the so-called gag order was vague and violated free speech rights. Now, nearly …

Gladys M. (White) Shank Bohm, age 92, of Centreville, died on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born April 25, 1924 in Constantine a daughter of Raymond and Arzilla (Allen) White. She graduated from White Pigeon High School in 1942. Gladys worked for Scoville Manufacturing and Wade Electric during WW II making submarine explosives and …

Michael A. McClain, 64, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a one-week illness. He was born Aug. 9, 1951, in Three Rivers, a son of Clayton R. and Beverly J. (Young)McClain. He lived most of his life in the White Pigeon and Constantine area. He was a veteran of the U.S. …

“Cover crops that have overwintered need to be terminated in a timely manner in the spring to avoid interfering with planting the row crop, taking up needed soil water in a dry spring, or acting as a weed for the subsequent crop,” says Dr. Dean Baas, Michigan State University Extension Educator and a specialist in sustainable agriculture and cover crops …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners were given an update on a master plan for the county’s newest park during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. Suzanne Fromson, representing St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources, reviewed a number of details related to the six-acre Covered Bridge Farm park before commissioners agreed to put the matter on their agenda for a vote …

The St. Joseph County Bar Association has announced its recipient of the organization’s 29th annual Liberty Bell Award. Spencer Price, who began working at St. Joseph County Community Mental Health in January 2008, will be honored during a ceremony next week. According to Judge Jeff Middleton, chairman of the Liberty Bell Committee, Price has become an important link between Community …

State Rep. Aaron Miller will be in Dowagiac Saturday to help recognize a member of the city’s fire department. During a ceremony at 1 p.m., Miller will take part in a tribute to James Carpenter. Carpenter has been named the department’s “Firefighter of the Year.” Miller plans to present Carpenter a state tribute for his service to the Dowagiac community.

State police are investigating reports of gunshots fired last week in White Pigeon Township. Agency officials said troopers were called around 5 p.m. April 20 to the 17000 block of Tomahawk Trail, where residents reported hearing gunshots. A second call was placed from a nearby residence reporting the same information. Troopers found that a camper and a boat had been …

Forrest Schmidtendorff, age 93, formerly of Constantine, died on Monday, April 25, 2016 at the Laurels of Fulton in Perrinton, MI. He was born October 31, 1922 in Cass County, a son of Clarence and Lena (Garwood) Schmidtendorff.  He graduated from Constantine High School and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. On July 9, 1943, he married Maxine Breece in …

Charles Jason Aublack, 46, Sturgis, died Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Casa Grande, Ariz. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon, where services will be at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in White Pigeon Township.