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Published: Three Rivers Commercial-News Saturday, December 24, 2011 8:09 AM EST I am not a fan of shopping unless it is for me. If I am shopping for anyone other than myself, I prefer to do so with a detailed list in my hand. I hate making decisions when they involve someone else. Finding an item I think that the …

This will be my final column of 2011. I’m taking the rest of the year off and gathering my thoughts. It shouldn’t take me too long. As a matter of fact, I’ll have another column ready by next Tuesday. Last Thursday was a special day for me. After my annual physical, my wife and I went out to celebrate the …

A funding issue has forced Planned Parenthood to close its offices in St. Joseph and Branch counties. The impending closure of the Three Rivers and Coldwater sites will follow the same course of action already taken in Sturgis and Hillsdale. Recipients of Planned Parenthood’s offerings will have to travel to Kalamazoo or Battle Creek to continue receiving services. The agency …

So-called Layaway Angels have made their mark at the Kmart store in Sturgis. John Brubaker, layaway manager, said three anonymous donors paid a total of $500 toward items that were reserved on layaway and about to be returned to store shelves for non-payment. He said one of the benefactors of the gestures was a single mother of three children. The …

Bell ringers with the Salvation Army have been given a one-week extension to continue collecting change from people outside Kroger grocery stores, including the Sturgis location. Salvation Army bell ringers will be on site until Dec. 31, a full week later than the agency’s traditional bell-ringing conclusion on Dec. 24. The Sturgis Kroger is at 811 S. Centerville Road.

Organizers of last week’s Firefighters for Santa program in Three Rivers called the gift- and food-distribution event a success. Over a five-hour period Friday, members of the Three Rivers Fire Department for the fourth year in a row delivered food and gifts to area families in need. This year, 50 families received food donations and children of the household received …

A toy- and food-collection effort led by the Michigan State Police at White Pigeon netted about 1,100 food items and nearly 1,050 toys. Det.-Sgt. Todd Petersen said a one-day collection effort at Wal-Mart stores in Three Rivers and Sturgis Dec. 3 helped off-duty state police personnel collect an ample quantity of items stuffed inside a State Police patrol car. For …

An unidentified Flowerfield Township man was injured in a shooting incident Monday evening at a home on Johnson Road, north of Three Rivers. The 52-year-old man was taken to Borgess Medical Center for treatment. He was reportedly shot in the upper torso with a small-caliber handgun. The man’s wife was taken into custody as the investigation continues.

Cindy Underwood has been named director of the Department of Human Services for St. Joseph and Cass counties. The move fills a spot created after her predecessor, Chris Kadulski, retired a year ago. Underwood had been serving the post in the capacity of interim director following Kadulski’s departure. Underwood is in charge of a staff of about 125 people between …

Three Rivers Community Schools recently received a positive annual audit. Superintendent Roger Rathburn and board members were told by CPA Michael Wilson that the district is in good financial position. He noted that the district’s fund balance is more than $5 million, which represents more than 20 percent of its annual expenditures. In addition, Wilson said the district ended its …