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Hopefully, you’ve noticed a slight change in this column. I’ve tried to make it a little more personal, without telling it all. You won’t find as many listings of coming events. Oh, I’ll mention some of course, but there won’t be as many as before. I’ll do my best to keep this column upbeat and more positive. I’d like it …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell was recognized as one of three recipients of an award bestowed by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Caswell, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, received the agency’s Silver Plow award last week in Lansing. The recognition is reserved for state lawmakers whose commitment to agriculture in 2012 ensures the ongoing success of the farming industry. The Silver …

Glen Oaks Community College recently recognized 21 employees who reached milestone years of employment with the Centreville-area school. Topping the list were James and Anne Cook, each for reaching the 35-year mark of employment. Nursing faculty member Janell Lederman was honored for three decades of employment, while Beverly Andrews, Larry Hass, Lynne Holtz and Barbara Thole were honored for reaching …

Three children died after they were trapped in an upstairs apartment when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo Monday afternoon.  Dispatchers say that the fire was fully involved when Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to the Interfaith Apartments on the city’s north side.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 3-year-old twins Tevin and Tinya Williams and …

A 38-year-old St. Joseph County man was sentenced to serve up to 70 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct. Prosecutor John McDonough said charges against Mendon Township resident David Mathews involved two teenage girls, one of them a family member. Mathews was sentenced Friday in 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree …

A gaming system, DVD movies and other items were stolen from a residence during a break-in reported last week in Sturgis Township. State police investigators said no one was home at a residence in the 69000 block of South Nottawa Road when it was burglarized between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 6 p.m. Wednesday. Details about how access was gained into …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Friday is sponsoring coffee hours in Dowagiac. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, will meet with residents at the Cass County Council on Aging in Front Street Crossing, 227 S. Front St. in Dowagiac from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Lori said the venue is an informal setting where he can provide a short legislative update and listen …

The Three Rivers Fire Department was called last week to a second-floor residence in the downtown district, where a passer-by called the 911 dispatch center to report seeing smoke inside the residence. Personnel were dispatched to 2 N. Main St. at 2:25 am Friday, as the caller also reported hearing smoke detectors going off. With assistance from the Three Rivers …

Michigan State Police at the Coldwater post have arrested a total of seven registered sex offenders who failed to verify their addresses during the last quarterly verification period. Sex offenders are required to verify addresses in accordance with the Registration Act. They face being charged with a high-court misdemeanor for failure to do so during the 15-day registration period. The …

Voters in the city of Sturgis will have an opportunity later this year to decide whether to support a financial request exclusively for road and sidewalk repairs. Members of the city council Wednesday voted to put a millage request proposal before city residents May 7. The question will give city officials an opportunity to dedicate a 3-mil, 10-year property tax …