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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 …

            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 …

Organizers of the 56th annual Three Rivers Water Festival have announced the Three Rivers-based Gray’s Community Band will perform on closing day of the three-day festival. The band has been booked to perform 3 to 4 p.m. June 16 at the rear of Scidmore Park. Parking for the free concert is along Spring Street.

St. Joseph County has reached an agreement with two couples who will serve as attendants at two county parks. Ronald and Denise Franklin, and their son, will serve as attendants at Nottawa County Park Campground at Sand Lake through Labor Day weekend. The seasonal job will allow them to spend the summer at the campground and enforce campground rules and …

A fire at a 30-unit apartment complex near Kalamazoo has forced the evacuation of residents. Several departments responded to the early Thursday fire at the three-story Gull Run Apartments in Kalamazoo County’s Comstock Township.   No serious injuries were reported. Comstock Township Fire Chief Walter Culver says one woman was taken to a hospital.  The cause of the fire was under …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency recently recognized Pat Swan, environmental health clerk in the Coldwater Office. Swan, who was originally hired as a receptionist, has retired after a 27-year career with the three-county agency. Agency officials said Swan wound up spending most of her career taking applications, handling questions and serving as a resource person to clients in need …

Members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education have announced two new administrators joining the district. Sheryl Thorbjornsen  will replace the retiring Fred Matusik at Park Elementary. Meanwhile, Norton Elementary finally has its full-time principal, as Jennifer Graber will step in to relieve Cindy Evans, who has been serving since January as interim principal. The position came open …

Sturgis Police were involved in a high speed chase Tuesday night around 10:30, when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle near the intersection of South Lakeview and Congress Street for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle fled and led police on a high speed chase into Indiana. The driver eventually lost control of the car and crashed into …

State Police troopers were dispatched to a rural Sturgis home late Monday afternoon for a 43-year-old suicidal man who had reportedly doused his home with lighter fluid. His 39-year-old wife reported the incident at the home, located in the 70000 block of Bauman Road, after the man sprayed lighter fluid on the floor and their 20-year-old son, then threatened to …

The Abiel Fellows Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Three Rivers has announced recipients for the DAR Good Citizens for 2012. Honored for their dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, each senior is recognized on the basis of merit. This year’s Good Citizens are: Lauren Kirby, Centreville High School; Adam West, Constantine High School; Leslie Bennett, Factoryville Christian School; Lindsey …