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Sturgis municipal officials said thanks to freezing temperatures, the portable ice rink it recently purchased is open. Located at North Monroe Street and East Chicago Road, the rink is open 8 a.m. to noon daily for hockey. It will be open noon to dusk Sundays through Thursdays and noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

St. Joseph County’s former administrator, Judy West-Wing, ended her 30-year career with the county Wednesday. The 54-year-old Centreville resident announced over the summer her plans to retire this month, in part to spend more time with her family, including her 10-year-old daughter. With the county’s 2013 budget approved last month and other loose ends tied up this month, West-Wing said …

Members of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department helped quickly extinguish a fire Tuesday morning at a Lockport Township business. Department officials said the early morning blaze was at K&D Body Shop, in the 57000 block of Haines Road. The fire started in and was limited to a bay area where cars are serviced. Firefighters said damage was minimal.

Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett has declined a raise offered by the village council. In lieu of the raise and at Honeysett’s request, funds will instead go toward a budget allocated to the village’s police cars. The village budgets $4,800 for such expenses, but with the increased cost of gas and with Honeysett’s request, the fund will increase to $5,400. …

We’re more than half way through January, and the winter has not been that bad so far. I’m sure we’ll have our share of stormy weather, but right now, every nice day is a bonus. The snow blower is filled with gasoline and ready for whatever Mother Nature sends our way. I’ve been reminded that we need the snow for …

Saturday’s Snowman-Making Contest, an event in which the city of Three Rivers was a registered participant, has been cancelled for the second consecutive year. The five-city event was to see whose residents could build the most snowmen within their community. As was the case in 2012, quality snow conducive to snowman-making has prevented the event from taking place. The other …

Constantine village officials have passed a resolution to honor recently retired police Sgt. Robert Studabaker. Studabaker on Dec. 31 ended a career that exceeded 32 years with the Constantine Police Department. Village Manager Mark Honeysett, who was one of four chiefs under whom Studabaker served, said Studabaker maintained a level of competence and professionalism that benefitted the Constantine Police Department. …

White Pigeon village employees may be in line to receive a 3 percent raise, potentially their first pay increase in three years. Village President Dan Czajkowksi said the raises were included in the village’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget presented last week. Czajkowski said another matter that merits attention is the renovation of the village’s water tower. The exterior has been …

A day-long investigation Sunday led Sturgis Police to find and arrest a man who allegedly robbed the Admiral gas station on East Chicago Road around 5 a.m. Sunday. According to a department media release, police developed a suspect by using previous arrest warrant investigations from earlier in the month. The suspect, who had displayed a knife to the employee before …

White Pigeon Township Library is promoting a guest speaker who will be on hand for a program next week. Perri Saunders, library director, said Jackson Kaguri  will appear at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 to discuss his book, “A School for My Village: A Promise to the Orphans of Nyaka.” Born in Uganda, Kaguri has been involved extensively in international community …