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A first-time participant in the annual Constantine Chili Throwdown took top honors during the third annual event Saturday. The Village Inn, which opened for business in July, was the top vote-getter from nearly 50 voters who weighed in on choosing the event’s best chili. For $5 per person, the public was invited to sample each of four chili offerings and …

The Michigan Public Service Commission last week issued an order approving a settlement agreement, which authorizes Indiana Michigan Power to increase electric rates by more than $14.6 million annually, effective with the next full cycle of billings. The amount represents an increase of nearly 5.9 percent over the rates set in I&M’s last rate case. According to the most recent …

The American Cancer Society has announced its Relay For Life campaign in Three Rivers will kick off next week. Starting at 6 p.m. March 1, cancer survivors, caregivers, families, schools, companies, faith-based and civic organizations are invited to gather at Kadant Johnson Research & Development Center to launch fundraising efforts for the year. The theme of this year’s event is …

(CNN – Opinion by Robert Whaples) — If you’ve ever looked closely at a newly minted penny, you’ve probably been struck by its sheer beauty. Abraham Lincoln’s bearded, chiseled, copper face shines forth beneath the proclamation of “In God We Trust” and beside the quintessential American motto, “Liberty.” Americans revere the penny, as it encapsulates a history lesson — Lincoln brought …

The St. Joseph County United Way surpassed its $650,000 goal for its 2012 campaign, executive director Kelly Hostetler said. The announcement came Thursday during a celebration and recognition event at the Doyle Center in Sturgis. Hostetler said $680,000 was raised, an increase of $79,000 from 2011. Hostetler said Sturgis Hospital led the way in 2012, with $48,000 in donations from …

The Three Rivers Police Department announced a 26-year-old man was charged with retail theft following an incident at 11 p.m. Tuesday. The man, a Three Rivers resident whose name was not released, allegedly tried to steal beer from a store in the 100 block of North Main Street. A clerk said the man fled north through an alley. The department’s …

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson issued a statement Thursday, warning people to be aware of thin ice. Tomlinson said fluctuating temperatures this winter have resulted in unsafe ice coverage at many lakes. He cited lake-rescue incidents in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties as situations where poor judgment led to consequences that could have been fatal. He said the …

Lockport Township officials have agreed to extend a contract for service with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department. Monday’s vote to approve the two-year pact means the Fabius-Park department will continue providing fire-protection service for the area of Lockport Township north of the St. Joseph River and west of Neaman Road. The $80,000-a-year agreement continues the township’s coverage another 24 months. …

Repair crews who spent last week correcting a bumpy railroad crossing on U.S. 12 in Sturgis will be back today to perform additional work. City officials said the work will center on a warped railroad tie on the tracks located on West Chicago Road, the busiest east-west route in the city. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be handling traffic …

A Three Rivers man was treated for injuries suffered in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Constantine Township. Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Constantine resident Gene Foreman was driving east on North River Road when he crossed the centerline and his vehicle struck a westbound pickup driven by Thomas McGee. McGee was transported from the scene …