News

More than 150 people attended Thursday’s opening night of the 57th Mendon Kiwanis Showboat. “The Not-So-Wild West” is the theme of the music and comedy program, which continues tonight and Saturday. A cast of about 35 members drew audience laughter for its between-song skits and jokes and strong applause for its two dozen musical numbers. The cast paid tribute to …

Testimony was provided by more than a dozen witnesses Wednesday in the preliminary-examination hearing of Andy Brown. Brown, 37, is accused of fatally shooting Sturgis-area CPA David Locey last month at Locey’s Sherman Township office. In all, 13 people testified before District Court Judge Jeff Middleton, with more testimony to be provided today. Middleton will then determine whether enough evidence …

Wisconsin-based Culver’s restaurant has announced it is opening a location in Sturgis next year. Michael and Jennifer Miller, who own Culver’s locations in Coldwater and Battle Creek, are developing the restaurant at 830 S. Centerville Road. It is slated to open in September following a four-month construction period, city officials said. The restaurant’s signature items are its made-to-order ButterBurger and …

Black Gold Farms invites the public to help itself to as many potatoes as it can transport. Ray Baker, manager of the Sturgis Township-based business, said limited capacity means the potatoes would otherwise end up being discarded. Baker said the potatoes are supposed to be a certain size to conform with guidelines preferred by potato chip manufacturers. He said this …

“The Not-So-Wild West,” the theme of the 2013 Mendon Kiwanis Showboat, begins its three-night run this evening. A cast of nearly three dozen people will perform a total of 24 songs and be featured in a variety of comical skits that have become the hallmark of the annual Mendon event over its 56-year life. Organizers of this week’s 57th annual …

An attempted child abduction was reported to Three Rivers Police shortly after 3pm Wednesday. A 12-year-old female was walking on Constantine Street near King Street, when a man reportedly pulled across the center of the road and yelled for her to get in his van. When the girl started to run away, the suspect opened the door of his van as …

Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation into law that will effectively give buyers of new vehicles, RV’s and boats a tax break when they trade-in an old vehicle or boat. The bills discontinue charging sales tax on trade-in vehicles and boats, when a new purchase takes place. However the break will be phased-in over a 24-year period for vehicles. In …

A longtime Three Rivers city employee and community icon has passed away. Ken Baker, who served in a variety of roles for the municipality, died Tuesday evening following a long battle with kidney cancer. He was 71. Baker started his career with the city as a patrol officer for the Three Rivers Police Department. He was later promoted to sergeant …

Tom Lowry will serve two more years as mayor of Three Rivers, as he defeated Larry Nichols in Tuesday’s general election. Lowry, 57, topped the 58-year-old Nichols, 268 votes to 206. Over the course of two tenures, Lowry has served as mayor for 14 years. Meanwhile, Linda Gearhart won the commissioner-at-large position Tuesday and will start a two-year term to …

Centreville Public Schools will see $12.8 million worth of improvements over the next decade, as its voters on Tuesday approved a 2.95-mill increase request. The vote was 351 in favor to 226 opposed. As a result, the district will start improvements at its elementary and jr./sr. high buildings next year as part of a three-phase plan that will also see …