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Authorities in rural western Michigan say an arson fire has destroyed a historic covered wooden bridge that has spanned the Flat River since the 19th century. The Ionia County sheriff’s department says the fire was reported about 5:10 a.m. Sunday on Whites Bridge It was built in 1869 in Keene Township, about 15 miles east of Grand Rapids. There’s no …

St. Joseph County Administrator Patrick Yoder has proposed the county board reduce its number of meetings from twice a month to once monthly. He is proposing the first Tuesday of the month; the current schedule calls for commissioners to meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Following last week’s commission meeting, Yoder said if the once-a-month meeting schedule …

Nearly 60 landowners between Sturgis and Coldwater have agreed to purchase about 16 miles of land to prevent it from becoming a rails-to-trails recreation path. The Indiana Northeastern Railroad was informed last week that adjacent landowners to its abandoned railroad bed have agreed to pool their money and make the property purchase. A group called Friends of the Tamarack Rail …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident during which a vehicle last week was found to be on fire in the 64000 block of Burr Oak Road in Burr Oak Township. Witnesses told investigators three people July 1 were seen fleeing from the van and tossing items into a nearby ditch. Upon closer inspection, officials found a …

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identity and prosecution of the party responsible for leaving a puppy abandoned in the village of Burr Oak. ARF officials said a Sturgis resident was at Railroad Park when she noticed a box with holes in its side last Tuesday near the …

When I decided to change course in my career and move from the banking and insurance world to that of education, I knew things would not be easy. In addition to going back to school to FINALLY secure my degree in elementary education, I knew the job market was already saturated with prospective teachers. Or in other words, a college …

The seventh annual flotilla on Palmer Lake in Colon will take place this weekend. Set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday from the Burr Oak Road boat launch, the flotilla for 2013 has adopted the theme “The Movies.” Per-entry cost is $10. Officials from Masonic Lodge No. 73 will judge the event and trophies for first-through-fourth places will be awarded. …

A golf outing to benefit a Three Rivers police officer is scheduled to take place next week. Wednesday’s benefit will take place at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville, to benefit T.J. Baker and his family. Baker, a past “Investigator of the Year” recipient by county prosecutor John McDonough, was diagnosed in May 2013 with a rare form of cancer. …

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 6 primary election is Monday. The August vote has relevance in Three Rivers, as three candidates are seeking an at-large post with the Three Rivers City Commission. The top two vote-getters will go on to face each other in the Nov. 5 general election. …

Officials from the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation announced the agency is accepting grant applications through the end of the month. Eligible applicants include schools, government entities, and other 501(c)3 organizations within the City of Three Rivers and surrounding townships.  Final grant awards will require 25 percent matching funds. Selected grant recipients will be notified by mid-August informing them the award amount …