Several items and collectables of significant value were taken from a residence during a daytime break-in Thursday last week in Florence Township. State police investigators said the incident took place in the 17000 block of Featherstone Road. In addition to Playstation and Xbox games and consoles, other items taken include a Remington rifle, chainsaw, Dell laptop computer, and jewelry and …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell plans to stage in-district office hours in St. Joseph County this week. Caswell will be at the Covered Bridge Diner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in Centreville. Caswell said the opportunity is an informal gathering where the public is invited to raise issues relevant to his legislative duties. Meanwhile, State Rep. Matt Lori will host …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced it will be flushing hydrants starting Tuesday and the process should continue through the month. For now, the flushing is slated to take place weeknights starting at 11 o’clock and continuing to 5 a.m. DPS officials said some rusty water may be experienced during this time. Any city resident experiencing prolonged …

Today is the first day of school in St. Joseph County and public school districts across the state. Locally, students in Colon Community Schools will see fully refurbished elementary and jr./sr. high buildings after a $15 million, district-wide building and technology upgrade was completed over the summer. In Three Rivers, new principals at Park and Norton elementary schools are in …

A small group of participants took part in the inaugural Paddle Poker Fest Sunday on the St. Joseph River. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, the fundraiser for the Centreville-based agency competed against early-morning rain and prospective participants who had made other holiday-weekend commitments. The six-mile ride down the St. Joseph River started in Mendon and concluded at …

A Colon man was seriously injured Friday evening in a 1-car crash on Blossom Road in Leonidas Township. 40-year-old Steven McClish lost control of the vehicle he was driving, and it overturned, ejecting him. McClish was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center for treatment.

Doris “Doe” Denney, age 78, of Sherwood, MI, died Sunday Sep. 2, 2012 at the Laurels in Coldwater. She was born near Mendon, MI on Jan. 19, 1934 the daughter of Frederick and Goldie Mae (DeHoff) Denney. She enjoyed raising and riding horses in her younger days . Doris graduated from Colon High School in 1952 and had been employed …

Ronald “Sim” R. Adams, age 86, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully early Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at the Riverview Manor surrounded by his family. He was born in Allegan, MI. on May 14, 1926 the son of the late Raymond and Lizzie Adams. Sim graduated from Allegan High School in 1944, where he was very active in sports and …

John Herbert “Herb” Bazur, 88, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died peacefully at home on Aug. 20, 2012. Herb was born April 15, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, to John and Loretta (Grady) Bazur. At 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy followed by the Merchant Marines and served in the North Atlantic during World War II. At Baldwin Wallace College in …

Patricia A. Papke, 76, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness. She was born March 3, 1936, in White Pigeon, a daughter of H. Russell and Mary (Gross) Lough. She was first married to William R. (Buck) Tavernier. That marriage ended in divorce. On March 1, 1986, she married Irwin E. …