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The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently awarded 20 Rural Development Fund Grants statewide, including one to a community in St. Joseph County. The grants are designed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities. MDARD Director Gary McDowell said funds will be helping to develop or support everything from infrastructure and …

Three Rivers Community Schools was the third district in the county over the past two weeks to call off classes for at least a day due to a larger-than-usual number of student absences due to illness. Superintendent Ron Moag said the decision to close Monday was based on the inordinate number of absences last week. Specifically, students as well as …

Following the death of a woman and her 16-year-old daughter last week in a fire in Fabius Township, the family has released a statement. Michelle and Cheyenne Bixler died in the blaze at their home on Harder Road. Three other children in the home were able to escape safely and were taken to Three Rivers Health. “The Bixler family has …

A Sunday morning fire injured one person at an apartment complex in Centreville. Centreville fire chief Dave Miracle said the department was dispatched at 10:43 to Mill Race Manor apartment complex on East Main Street. Miracle said the fire spread quickly through a portion of the complex. When crews arrived, they observed smoke emitting from the window of a unit. …

Democrats are putting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the national stage Tuesday to rebut President Donald Trump’s State of the Union message. By elevating a fresh face and casting an election-year spotlight on the Midwest, the party looks to win back states Trump narrowly captured. The 48-year-old’s ascendance comes as Democrats hope to solidify gains with female voters and as …

A judge has rejected a sentencing deal that carried a five-year cap for fraud committed by a farmer in southwestern Michigan. Judge Paul Maloney says it doesn’t reflect the “seriousness” of the crime. Mike Stamp had pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a scheme to defraud a government crop insurance program and lenders in Van Buren County. MLive.com reports that Stamp …

An immigrant who worked for the Roman Catholic Church in Kalamazoo has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing fees from other immigrants. The government says Monica Mazei concealed the scheme by failing to open files for certain people and persuading them to give cash or blank checks. Mazei was ordered to pay $59,000 to her victims …

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was one-tenth of a percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.3 percent unemployment rate in January was down from December’s 3.4 percent. St. Joseph County was slightly below the state’s unemployment average, which was 3.5 percent in …

A vehicle left running in Yoder’s Country Market parking lot in Centreville was stolen last week. Sheriff’s officials said deputies were called at 5:10 p.m. Thursday in response to the incident. The vehicle is a dark-green Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The pickup has a salter on the back that possibly blocks the plate. The plate number is CLB452. In addition, there’s …

A Portage man led sheriff’s deputies on a vehicle pursuit last week in Park Township. According to a department media release, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle Jan. 26 on Buckhorn Road, near Marcellus Road. The vehicle sped up and tried to avoid the deputy by turning into a driveway. In an attempt to elude authorities, the suspect drove …