News

St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department Director John Pence said Meyer Broadway Park, located west of Three Rivers, has reopened to the public after a public-safety issue involving what was initially six stray dogs. St. Joseph County Animal Control and county park staff have seen no sign of three remaining dogs that have been at large since a confrontation …

Four people were arrested Saturday following complaints of a chemical odor emitting from a room at a hotel in the 1700 block of South Centerville Road. Upon further investigation, Sturgis Police officials were denied access to the room because it was not in the name of the lone occupant. A search warrant, however, was secured from prosecutor John McDonough. Police …

Sturgis city officials said Balkema Excavating will begin water main construction on West South Street starting today, meaning detours will be in place. Westbound traffic on South Street, starting at South Nottawa, will be detoured north to Magnolia Avenue, then south on Prairie and back to South Street. There will be one-way traffic eastbound only on South Street between Jefferson …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced that Jaren Wade was convicted of first-degree murder last week by a Cass County jury. The 12-member jury found that the 21-year-old Wade murdered Darius Nickens, 29, in April 2011 in Dowagiac. Trial testimony established that Nickens was shot once in the arm and twice in the back. The jury also convicted Wade of …

Some state lawmakers are trying to burn holes in Michigan’s two-year-old smoking ban, which has cleared the air in public places and enjoyed support but contributed to cash-flow problems at some bars.  An amendment added to a budget bill by one lawmaker this past week would stop enforcement of the ban at longtime charitable fundraising events. A Senate bill introduced …

Authorities say a 64-year-old man has been killed in an early morning fire at his Kalamazoo home.  The Kalamazoo public safety department says in a news release that officers arrive at 1:30 a.m. Saturday and found the house engulfed in flames.  It was extinguished several hours later, and the man’s body was found.  No one else lived in the house. …

The price of admission to musicals presented by Three Rivers High School will be lowered starting next year, a measure being taken following action taken this week by the district’s Board of Education. Superintendent Roger Rathburn said $15 for adults and $12 for students was found to be the highest among schools in the county as well as in the …

Sturgis High School is preparing its students – and their parents – for a technology advance in the 2012-13 academic year, when all high school students will be provided an iPad to use for the school year. Sessions staged Tuesday and Wednesday this week collectively drew more than 100 parents, who were given more information about security features that will …

The Three Rivers Citizens of the Year, Jim and Vera Bippus, were recognized during a reception Tuesday at Belle Epoque. Hosted by the Three Rivers Lions Club, the banquet attracted more than 100 people and provided an opportunity to formally recognize the lifelong Three Rivers residents for their contributions to the community. The Three Rivers Lions Club has staged the …

Fire officials from the Michigan State Police are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire Tuesday that destroyed the Trilium building, in the 26000 block of West U.S. 12. Located in unincorporated Sturgis Township, the building was fully engulfed in flames as personnel from the Tri-Township and city of Sturgis fire departments arrived shortly after 8 p.m. The fire …