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A crowd of about 150 people attended Saturday’s annual St. Joseph County Lincoln Day banquet at the Sturges-Young Auditorium, in Sturgis. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers delivered the keynote speech, which focused on the shortcomings of President Obama and underscored the need to vote for Republican candidates in the November general election. Congressman Fred Upton also gave a brief speech during …

The number of births in St. Joseph County in 2011 exceeded the number of deaths, according to data provided by County Clerk Pattie Bender. Bender, the county’s most tenured employee with more than 41 years of employment, presented her annual report Tuesday to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Bender said 717 people were born in the county in …

Downtown Constantine will be the site of a quilter’s exhibit Saturday. Area residents will be displaying their quilts at various locations throughout the village’s downtown district 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, the Barry House will be hosting for the first time its heritage with a display of generational and heirloom quilts during the same four-hour timeframe. A quilt …

The unseasonably warm weather in Michigan is giving mushroom hunters an early jump on morel season.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports at least one morel sighting has been reported in March, about two months before the usual peak season in the state. If mushroom hunters use the calendar to determine morel season this year they could miss out on the chance …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services said it will not be conducting a leaf and brush pick up this year. Based on that decision, DPS officials on Monday issued a news release, reminding residents that it is against city ordinance to place yard waste or debris in the street or the area between the street and the sidewalk. Residents …

A company that grinds wood into livestock bedding has lost its bid to move to a new location in northern Indiana after neighbors complained it shouldn’t be in a rural area.  The Elkhart County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday to deny the request from Martin Animal Bedding to build a couple miles outside Goshen. Company representative Barry Pharis told commissioners that …

Scientists say the gray wolves of Isle Royale National Park are dangerously close to extinction.  Biologists with Michigan Tech University say they counted only nine wolves on the Lake Superior island this winter, down from 16 a year ago.  It’s the lowest number since scientists began monitoring the park’s wolves and moose a half-century ago. Biologists Rolf Peterson and John …

Constantine Public Schools has announced the date for an annual faculty-versus-police benefit basketball game for a fifth-annual fund rais¬er. The game is at 7:30 p.m. March 23 at the Constantine High School gym. Proceeds go toward the Michigan Concerns of Police Sur¬vivors organization. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. A fundraiser bake sale also will …

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County has announced the date of its annual dinner-auction benefit. The agency’s 10th annual dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. April 28 in the cafeteria at Three Rivers High School. The auction portion of the event starts at 6:30 p.m. Outback Steakhouse of Kalamazoo is donating, preparing and serving the meal. Tickets are $10 …

St. Joseph County Probate Judge Tom Shumaker announced last week he will not seek re-election in November. The 69-year-old Shumaker said he has contemplated retirement for several months and has decided his current term – which expires at the end of the year – will be his last. Shumaker has served in the position for 22 years. To date, three …