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A late-night fire last week in Flowerfield Township destroyed a house, barns and other outbuildings. The blaze was reported at 9 p.m. Thursday in the 52000 block of Johnson Road. It appears the fire started in a barn and spread quickly to the residence and other buildings, investigators said. It took more than three hours to extinguish the fire. Two …

Spring brush and leaf pickup in Sturgis continues this week after beginning Monday. Department of Public Services crew members are starting the process at the north side of the city and working their way south. Weather conditions and varying amounts of brush make it difficult to adhere to a strict schedule, city officials said, so residents should have materials ready …

A 96-year-old woman, who has played a key role in two longstanding local traditions, has been selected as Three Rivers Citizen of the Year for 2013. Carol Boulette was named the recipient, bestowed annually since 1965 by members of the Three Rivers Lions Club. Boulette played a hand in the formation of the Three Rivers Water Festival as well as …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department uncovered a methamphetamine operation and a substantial quantity of meth following the execution of a search warrant last week in Fabius Township. The Friday incident took place following an investigation by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit at a residence in the 58000 block of County Line Road. A department media release indicated …

Various tools were stolen during a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred early last Wednesday in Sturgis Township. According to a media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, a plasma cutter, cutting torches with tanks, numerous hand tools, and chop saws and grinders were taken. A suspect vehicle is a 2003 or 2004 Chevy work truck, white in color.

The Prairie River Watershed and wetlands in St. Joseph County will be at the center of a presentation Wednesday. Overseen by the St. Joseph County Conservation District and its counterpart in Branch County, the two-hour event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Dresser Auditorium at Glen Oaks Community College. Presenter Rachel Smith, coordinator of the Prairie River Watershed Protection Plan, …

The organization Keep Wolves Protected announced last week a petition to place wolf hunting on a 2014 referendum was submitted earlier this month. If the proposed referendum is approved, it would delay a planned wolf-hunting season, approved by legislatures in December. A 67-day drive to secure signatures and force the matter to be decided by Michigan’s voters netted more than …

Site Selection magazine has ranked the Sturgis micropolitan – a region that includes St. Joseph County – No. 23 on its list of the 2012 Top Micropolitans. The ranking represents the number of new facility and facility-expansion projects as tracked and reported by Conway Data Service’s New Plant Report. Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, said the …

Constantine alumnus and former football coach Dave Horn has offered to spearhead fundraising efforts to benefit upgrades at Sweetland Stadium. Members of the district’s board of education have been presented three architectural drawings featuring various upgrades at the football, and track-and-field complex. Horn has started the push for potential improvements and the process will include feedback from the public. Costs …

After two delays, the Michigan Department of Transportation is set to begin next week road construction on M-216 in Flowerfield Township. Starting Monday, the road will be closed west of the U.S. 131 intersection for a $1.8 million reconstruction project. A detour will follow Pulver, Johnson and Flowerfield roads. The roadwork is set to be completed in June. Previous start …