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 …

Paul H Arnold, age 92, of Three Rivers, formerly of Constantine, died Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at Fairview Living Centre in Centreville. He was born in Constantine on January 29, 1924, a son of John and Jennie (Benson) Arnold. On August 27, 1944, Paul married Phyllis Wright in Pierceton, IN. She preceded him in death on December 15, 1997. Paul …

Jerry L. Perry, age 75, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday, March 7, 2016, at Select Specialty Hospital in Battle Creek. He was born Aug. 16, 1940, in LaGrange County, Ind., a son of the late Neal and Helen (Mecklenburg) Perry. Jerry was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak and a 1958 graduate of Burr Oak High School, where he …

Sturgis Hospital has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound as the result of an extensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body parts to help providers diagnose illness, injury or other medical problems. “Medical imaging has changed tremendously over the …

Volkswagen owners can finally dump their cheatin’ cars, if they want to. The German automaker has agreed to an unprecedented U.S. settlement to make things right after admitting that it programmed about half a million of its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. When driven on the road, the vehicles put out levels of nitrous oxide well above U.S. …