A number of city officials and Sturgis residents attended an open house last week to honor outgoing deputy fire chief Scott Hopkins. A 40-year veteran of the department, Hopkins begins working this week in Centreville as the county’s emergency services coordinator. Hopkins will work under Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the position next month. As coordinator of emergency services, …

A deep run into the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs ended Friday for the Mendon volleyball team. The Lady Hornets came up short in a semi-final match against Beal City, three games to one, at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Mendon finishes its season 48-7. Beal City, meanwhile, bowed out Saturday to Battle Creek St. Philip in the Class …

A day-long meeting, starting at 8 a.m. today, will give members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education an opportunity to hear from four companies vying to help the district in its search for a new superintendent. Current Superintendent Roger Rathburn has indicated he plans to retire at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. The afternoon portion …

Patricia Ann Vrobel, age 82, of Mendon, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Kalamazoo on Jan. 16, 1930 the daughter of William and Martha (Frick) Rynd. she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1947. Pat was married to Raymond Vrobel on Oct. 2, 1948 in Kalamazoo and they moved …

125 people were left homeless early Monday morning following a fire overnight at a Kalamazoo apartment building. The blaze broke out just before 11:30 Sunday night at the seven-story Northwind Hilltop Apartments. Fire officials say a third floor apartment was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on the scene. The fire then spread to the apartment above …

Rodney A. Ryder, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away late Friday morning, Nov. 16, 2012, at his home, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 4, 1946, in Yale, a son of Harlan and June (Wiegand) Ryder. Rod resided in Sturgis since 1994. Before moving to Sturgis, he lived in Saline for five years, Caro for 10 …

Constantine 36,  Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 14

Quick response by the Fabius-Park Township and Three Rivers fire departments limited the extent of fire-related damage at a residence in Fabius Township early Wednesday. The departments were summoned to the 56000 block of Seven Hills Road around 2 a.m. to a report of a blaze started in the mantel of a fireplace. The mantel was cut into sections by …

The St. Joseph County United Way is requesting prospective donors who typically give food or money at Christmas to consider making a donation at Thanksgiving instead. The Centreville-based agency in 2011 provided about 150 food baskets at Christmas because of donations from local companies and individuals in need a little extra help. This year, the Department of Human Services has …

The Three Rivers City Commission has set a Nov. 30 deadline to accept citizen-interest forms for anyone interested in serving an 11-month term to the commission. Though the vacancy is in the city’s First District, the position is available at-large. The seat was vacated last week after Judith Gilchrist announced her resignation due to her impending move out of state. …