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Several fire departments responded to a blaze Wednesday afternoon at Southern Michigan Rubber, located on M-60 in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The fire reportedly started in a dust collector which is located in an area where rubber gaskets are manufactured. Twenty workers escaped from the building when the fire was discovered. The facility was a total loss.

Michigan lawmakers are approving the first significant increase in hunting and fishing license fees since 1997. Legislation passed 77-32 by the Republican-led state House Wednesday raises about $20 million more, a 40 percent boost. The money would let Michigan hire more conservation officers and improve parks, trails and habitat. The measure would create a new base hunting license costing $10 …

A Sturgis resident will be asked to clean his Klinger Lake property of construction debris and concrete blocks, following an order to be imposed by White Pigeon Township officials. With more than two dozen people attending Tuesday’s township board meeting, Supervisor Don Gloy said he will ask that Eric Pierson removes the items from his Klinger Lake Road property. In …

An 18-year-old Sturgis woman was cited for failure to yield the right of way following a two-vehicle accident Saturday in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Katelyn Johnson was driving on Banker Street when she proceeded to cross Balk Road. Sixty-two-year-old Charles Hudson of Sturgis was driving north on Balk Road and had the right of way; …

Sturgis Public Schools athletics director Mark Adams said the district is expressing an interest in joining the Wolverine Conference athletic league. Although the concept is in its infancy, Adams said Sturgis is aware the conference is interested in adding at least one other team, with the impending departure of Comstock. A Wolverine Conference meeting is expected to take place next …

The city of Three Rivers has given special thanks to American Electric Power – Indiana Michigan Power – for its contribution to the Scidmore Park Petting Zoo Saturday programming. The city notified AEP of the community’s desire to continue quality educational programming at no cost to the public through its Saturday summer programs at the zoo. AEP is partnering with …

With the passing of Memorial Day, we are officially into summer. Although summer doesn’t officially begin until June 22, the gentlemen may now wear their white shoes and the ladies may wear whatever they usually wear, without fear of embarrassment. Please don’t accuse me of slamming the ladies, but I really am not aware of what the style is for …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn is a finalist for the superintendent’s position with Portage Public Schools. Rathburn, who has been planning to retire from Three Rivers a year from now, is one of a trio of candidates for the Portage post currently held in an interim basis by Rob Olsen. Portage school officials have indicated first-round interviews will …

Fifty-five marijuana plants and equipment used to cultivate marijuana were removed over the weekend from a residence in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said officers patrolling the area around 9 p.m. Saturday noticed the smell of marijuana and traced the odor to a residence in the 32000 block of Custer Road. During a consensual search of the …

A Dowagiac teen is dead after suffering a self inflicted gunshot wound. Police were called to Dowagiac Middle School at 6:40 a.m. Monday morning, because a custodian saw a boy acting strangely outside the building. When police arrived 13-year old Darren James Price of Dowagiac ran into a wooded area near the school. Police surrounded the area, then heard a …