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The first day of ticket sales for Alan Jackson’s appearance this fall at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair was overwhelming, fair manager Bill Johnson said. Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday and a line of more than 250 people was in place outside the fairgrounds ticket window. At the head of the line was a group that …

A memorial marker commemorating the spot where Calista Springer died in a house fire was decorated Monday by people remembering the four-year anniversary of the Centreville girl’s death. The 16-year-old Springer suffered smoke inhalation and was burned while chained to her bed when a faulty vacuum sweeper started the fire. Balloons, flowers and stuffed animals were left at the marker …

Officials from the St. Joe Community Co-op said customer abuse of a drop-off container outside their Sturgis facility has prompted the co-op to no longer accept recyclable paper products. The measure goes into effect immediately. Co-op officials said the drop-off bin was continually filled with household garbage and recyclable items other than paper products. The agency will continue to pick …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made appointments to a pair of boards. Three Rivers-area resident Connie Stoppenbach was appointed to fill a term on the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board. Her term will expire in April 2013. Meanwhile, reappointments of Sturgis-area resident Betty Massey and commissioners Don Eaton, John Dobberteen and Robin Baker were made to …

A 20-year-old Colon man was treated for minor injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend in Park Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Kyle Wirgau was driving west on Heimbach Road Saturday night when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch over the roadway and went off the south side …

The Three Rivers girls basketball team got its postseason off on the right foot Monday when it rallied to beat Vicksburg. The opening round of district play saw the 18-3 Lady Wildcats top the host school, 43-33. Three Rivers was led by Linsey Masnari’s 18 points, while Teagan Reeves chipped in 11. The Three Rivers squad, which will see action …

A Sturgis police officer was treated for minor injuries following an incident with a 19-year-old man over the weekend. About 7:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue. Once located by police, the suspect left the scene in what was later discovered to be a stolen vehicle. He eventually …

Bill Lentz was named the Sturgis Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2011. The award was presented during Wednesday’s Sturgis City Commission meeting. Lentz was recognized by Public Safety Director David Northrup for his dedication to the department and his job. Northrup said Lentz has undertaken major cases in 2011 that yielded prosecution, including a criminal sexual conduct incident. …

Three Rivers Police on Tuesday apprehended a man who allegedly stole a car from the Riverside Townhouses. Police said the vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store. With the aid of investigators from the Michigan State Police post at White Pigeon, the man was found at an undisclosed location several blocks away from where …

A single-car crash in Lockport Township Tuesday night led to a 24-year-old Marcellus-area woman being airlifted to a Kalamazoo hospital for injuries she suffered.  The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Leslie Leer was driving north on Constantine road when she lost control of her Jeep at 10:30 p.m. near Shorewood Drive.  The Jeep struck a street sign and cable …