News

A 22-year-old Elkhart man has pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of the owner of a northern Indiana convenience store and an employee.  Richard Gross pleaded guilty Monday moments before his trial was scheduled to begin. He admitted taking part in a Sept. 5 robbery at Saleh’s Market east of downtown Elkhart, where 55-year-old Jagtar …

Glen Oaks Community College is continuing public forums for its presidential candidates today and Thursday. The second of three sessions takes place today, when Phil Gasparro will be involved in a question-answer forum 10 to 11 a.m., and again 1:30-2:30 p.m. Gasparro is an administrator with Student Success Initiatives at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. On Thursday, Douglas Brauer will …

The St. Joseph County United Way has issued a reminder of a donation opportunity that agency officials call a “win-win” proposition. Executive director Kelly Hostetler said by donating appreciated stocks that have been held for at least a year and a day, the giver is able to deduct the full, fair-market value of the stock on the date of the …

Seven area high school girls were named to the all-state volleyball squad. Members of the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association named Brooke Howard of Mendon to its Class C first-team. Her teammate, Alexis Russell, was named to the second team, while fellow Lady Hornet Jordan VanOss made the third team. In Class B, first team honors went to Rachel Anderson …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced a forestry workshop it is sponsoring this week. The event is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and features two keynote speakers: Ben Schram, forestry assistance program coordinator with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Jeff Steinkraus, consulting forester. The focus of the workshop will center on qualified forestry, conservation …

Troopers from the Michigan State Police detachment in White Pigeon were called Friday to A-1 Storage Unit in Sturgis Township regarding break-ins to several units. The incidents occurred between 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday in the 68000 block of White School Road.

Nearly 200 people took part in Friday’s Christmas in Colon holiday gathering  in downtown Colon. Despite cold weather, a crowd gathered along State Street well ahead of the annual parade. The procession started at Colon Elementary and concluded at Colon Community Park, where hot chocolate, cookies and a visit with Santa were available. Sponsored by the Colon Area Chamber of …

Kennedy’s Kitchen and the Celtic Fire Irish Stepdancers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Huss Project, an effort to build community in Three Rivers through food, art, play and friendship. The evening will feature Irish music, dancing, sing-along Christmas carols, complimentary appetizers and a cash …

The Lockport Township Water System, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, has determined it is no longer necessary to use bottled water, or to boil water before drinking or cooking. Appropriate corrective measures have been taken and follow-up sampling has confirmed no coliform bacteria is present in the water supply. The advisory had been in place since …

Michigan authorities say this year’s deer harvest appears to be down significantly from 2012 because of weather, disease and rule changes. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that early checks show the number of deer shot during the 2013 firearms hunting season fell in all regions of the state. The season ended Saturday. The DNR says the drop …