The Three Rivers City Commission on Tuesday approved a $15,000 bid for a new mower and deck. The low bid was received from Three Rivers-based Fillmore Equipment. City officials said the majority of the cost will be covered by the municipality’s insurance company, as the previous mower caught fire and was damaged beyond repair.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is teaming up with MSU Extension this summer to offer special classes that will help participants learn how to buy, clean, store and cook with fresh produce. Project FRESH is a program that makes fresh produce available to low income, nutritionally-at-risk women and children who participate in the Women, Infants and Children program. WIC …

Here’s a reminder that the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is staging a grand-opening celebration of Spirit Springs Sanctuary. The event takes place 10 a.m. to noon Saturday along Dutch Settlement Road in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. The preserve features 124 acres of heavily rolling forest and high-quality wetlands. Organizers of the event promise said visitors will enjoy the public-use amenities …

A Three Rivers-based company has been recognized by a trade publication as one of the elite bail-enforcement agent-training programs in the nation. The agent-training provided by MI Security was ranked in the top 17 by Collateral Magazine as one of the top fugitive-recovery programs in the United States. The company, owned by Ed Becher, was noted for the thoroughness of …

Earl Poynter, 88, of Three Rivers, passed away June 4, 2012. He lived most of his life in Greencastle, Ind. until he came to reside with his daughter in 2009. As a member of HealthTRAC, Earl could be found walking the track most mornings. He is survived by his only child, Pam Tilka of Three Rivers, and grandchildren, Nathan and …

The Michigan State Police investigated a four vehicle crash that occurred on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 1:50 pm. A pickup truck being driven by Todd Marks 50 of Jones, was stopped waiting to make a left turn from US 131 onto River Heights Rd. A second vehicle traveling south being driven by Lorren Springer 17 of White Pigeon stopped …

The Three Rivers City Commission has approved a new budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which begins July 1. During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners endorsed a plan that will see more than $4.2 million in budgeted expenditures. A public hearing took place prior to the commission approving the budget. The city plans to levy 20.2562 mills.

            St. Joseph County’s new MSU Extension agriculture agent was introduced Tuesday to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners.             John Zirkle, an Indiana native, recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a master’s degree in plant soil science. Zirkle’s work will cover a variety of issues, including helping with field trials, pest-management testing and lending a hand …

St. Joseph County plans to levy 4.5482 percent of taxable value in excess of $1.8 billion, following a vote taken by the board of commissioners Tuesday. Money generated from the levy, which is applied to county property owners, accounts for almost two-thirds of the tax dollars the county collects annually, according to county administrator Judy West-Wing. She said money generated …

At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Three Rivers police re­sponded to the 600 block of Erie Street, where two males were attempting to enter an apartment building. Police said two 17-year-old boys, one from Mendon and one from Three Rivers, were followed to Maplecrest Apartments, where they were seen attempting to gain access to vehicles in the parking lot. The investigation re­vealed …