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A St. Joseph County municipality was one of nine Michigan communities to receive a portion of $250,000 in grants aimed at supporting small, local businesses, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced this week. The city of Three Rivers and its Main Street program was awarded $25,000 toward $67,500 in matching funds and private investment. The finances will benefit Speaking Stone …

The Three Rivers Lions Club suffered a setback over the weekend, as a fire destroyed a storage shed owned by the local civic group. The fire was reported around 9 p.m. Saturday at the Sixth Avenue site. Lions Club officials said lost as a result of the fire were five boxes full of items for its Toys For Tots recipients; …

A White Pigeon man was one of three people involved in an airplane crash over the weekend in Branch County. Patrick Murphy was at the control of the single-engine plane Saturday when it belly crashed at Branch County Regional Airport in Coldwater. Other occupants were flight instructor Edwin Shumway of Tekonsha and rear-seat passenger Richard Crepas of Kalamazoo. Authorities said …

Teresa Belote, superintendent of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, received a “highly effective” rating recently from ISD board members. The board also extended Belote’s contract for a year. The rating is based on evaluation at a closed session using the School Advance Administrator Evaluation, board president Liz O’Dell said. She further added that the ISD has appreciated Belote’s self-assessment, …

State police are investigating the theft of a campaign sign. The sign, promoting sheriff candidate Gordon Evilsizor, was stolen between Feb. 16 and this past Saturday. The sign was posted on the south side of U.S. 12, just west of Mann Road in Mottville Township, according to investigators.

As I’m writing this column, I’m soaking up the sun in Florida. This means that I am not in Three Rivers studying in my office. Therefore, I am out of touch with the heartbeat of my hometown. I won’t be filling you in on any local happenings, but I am including things of interest that I might be enjoying while …

The Kalamazoo Wings (20-25-7-1) earned three out of the possible four points available to them this past weekend as both of their games were nail biters. On Friday night, the K-Wings hosted the Indy Fuel.  Jumping out to an early 1-0 lead, Aaron Thow was credited with a goal that was actually sent into the net off the skate of …

A safety concern involving curves on Fawn River Road will be addressed with asphalt work, following action last week by the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Its members approved resolutions authorizing asphalt contracts for Fawn River Road, and Sauger Lake and Nottawa roads. On Fawn River Road, contractors will crush and shape the curves between the west and east …

Members of the White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education appointed Leonard Hinkson to fill a seat vacated by Clayton Bell. Hinkson’s appointment will last 10 months. If he wants to serve the remaining two years of Bell’s term, he will have to be elected in November. He said he wants to support the district’s motto of “every student, every …

No injuries were reported after a semi tractor-trailer caught fire last week on a highway in Branch County. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at 4:40 a.m. Friday to a report of a Fed Ex truck on fire in the northbound lane of Interstate 69 near the weigh station in Ovid Twp. The semi, a double trailer, was transporting nitric …