A longtime former member of the Three Rivers Zoning Board of Appeals has been appointed to the Three Rivers City Commission. Larry Matson was selected Tuesday from a pool of three candidates interested in filling the seat left vacant by Ken Baker. Baker resigned from the commission April 2 due to health-related issues. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners during Tuesday’s …

Members of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have given the green light to a $345,000 upgrade at Sturgis High School’s football stadium. Board members on Monday approved Paw Paw-based Hall Builders to oversee the installation of new, metal bleachers. District officials debated between two grades of aluminum and opted for a higher-quality metal, which costs more but will …

Property and several stolen guns taken last month from a White Pigeon bait and tackle store were recovered by investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies were dispatched Saturday to a residence in the 67000 block of Blue School Road in Constantine Township regarding an unwanted subject. During the investigation, deputies located and seized items from a breaking-and-entering …

The St. Joseph County Area Marine Corps League has a permanent meeting place and time. Following the group’s first meeting as its own chapter last weekend, members agreed to meet at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the FOP Hall, east of Centreville on M-86. Members had staged both an informational meeting and Saturday’s inaugural meeting at …

Delbert J. Wolfinger, age 64, of Three Rivers, died Monday, April 16, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born July 2, 1947, in Goshen, Ind., a son of Roy and Mabel (Linn) Wolfinger. Delbert was a longtime resident of Constantine, where he was employed by the Michigan Milk Producers Association for more than 33 years. In his …

Carmen Ann Prestidge, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening, April 15, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Dec. 20, 1937, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Richard and Ruth (Antonides) Lapham Arklie. Carmen was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1956. On Oct. 26, …

Victoria Ware Russell of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Friday, April 13, 2012, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Vicke, as she was known to her friends and family, was born and raised in Sturgis. After graduating from Sturgis High School in 1975, she attended Central Michigan University for two years. Vicke then transferred …

There is no doubt in my mind that we are living in Michigan. A month ago we experienced temperatures in the eighties. Last week we had below-freezing temps. I can only hope that the frost has not hurt the buds on the fruit trees. Mother Nature can be a major speed bump at times. I’m sure that most of you …

Victor Fitz announced Monday he will seek a third term as Cass County prosecutor. The 54-year-old Fitz was previously elected as prosecutor in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Fitz was originally appointed to the position by Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge in May 2003. A veteran law enforcement official, Fitz has served in the field of prosecution since 1983. He …

State Police have found the body of an elderly woman, who had been missing since Monday. Authorities searched all day Monday for 84-year-old Joanne Holden in an area near her home, at the intersection of Dutch Settlement and Day Roads. Her body was spotted from the air Tuesday morning by a State Police helicopter, about ½ mile southeast of her …