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St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton was fined $200 on a charge of disturbing the peace, related to a July incident at the Sturgis Applebee’s. The charge was reduced from what could have been possession of a firearm while intoxicated, as Eaton was found to have had a blood-alcohol level in excess of 0.08 percent while he was in possession …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation recently awarded more than $13,000 collectively to four area non-profit organizations during its 2013 annual grant cycle.. Three Rivers Food Site was awarded $2,800 to assist with providing area residents with basic and emergency food and personal care supplies. The City of Three Rivers will benefit from a $2,800 grant award that will be …

A small group of people attended a community forum Tuesday to hear more about Centreville Public School’s upcoming millage request. Led by Superintendent Rob Kuhlman at Centreville Elementary School, the forum covered details related to the district’s Nov. 5 request for 2.95 additional mills to generate $12.8 million over a 15-year period for building and technology improvements. The third of …

One of the top employers in Sturgis broke ground Tuesday for the largest expansion in its 70-year history. Officials from Burr Oak Tool staged a ceremonial event to mark the addition of a 120,000 square-foot assembly facility at the corner of South Nottawa Street and Bogen Road in Sturgis. Company representatives said the multi-million dollar investment is expected to create …

Brush pick up in the city of Three Rivers has reached its midway point. The city’s Department of Public Services began the pickup process Monday in the Third District. The effort continues today in the Fourth District and Thursday in the Second District. Brush will be picked up just one time this year, DPS officials said. Leaf pickup in the …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week agreed to two major purchases. In advance of winter weather, the city commission approved the purchase of 5,000 pounds of road salt. The $24,000 transaction will call for 60 percent of the salt to be delivered ahead of the season and the balance will be shipped later in the winter. Also, …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his office investigated a single-vehicle crash that took place last week in Porter Township. Underwood said the incident occurred mid-afternoon Friday on M-217 at State Line Road. The driver, 50-year-old Brad Martin, of Vandalia, was northbound on M-217 when he lost control of his vehicle, which left the roadway and struck the Welcome …

A service offered Saturday by Up-Cycled Pets of St. Joseph County proved to be a popular attraction. Staged at the St. Joseph County fairgrounds, the first-of-its kind event offered free rabies shots, four-in-one vaccinations and microchipping for dogs. The program was organized and conducted jointly between Up-Cycled Pets and the Kalamazoo County Humane Society, thanks to a Michigan-based foundation that …

A number of the 300-plus patrons who attended Wednesday’s eighth annual Project Connect in Centreville appeared focused on their needs, and spent less time browsing and more time at specific tables for the exact help that brought them to the event. Organizers of the six-hour event said 49 vendors, representing various agencies and departments to offer help for a variety …

The St. Joseph County Major Crimes Task Force is continuing its investigation into Wednesday’s homicide of Sturgis accountant David Locey. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Andy Brown was arraigned Thursday afternoon on a charge of embezzlement, a crime that could be connected to Locey’s murder, officials from the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office said. Brown, a Kalamazoo resident, was formerly employed by Locey …