Recent Posts

Mendon village manager seat remains open

The village of Mendon is weighing its options in terms of how to proceed with its vacant village manager’s position. Longtime village manager John Hyden retired in June and the village since then has relied on chief of police Dan Kennedy initially and now former village council member Kirk Spence to oversee the role. Spence said he has held the …

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Artists Guild welcomes 2 new members

The Three Rivers Artists Guild has added two new members following a five-member artists jury review of the artwork of the two applicants last weekend. The artists, Ann Barnhart and Denise Hiestand, were subsequently voted to join the Guild. Barnhart, an emerging artist in Kalamazoo and Hiestand, a Jones resident, displayed their artwork and explained their background, ideas and artistic …

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Board chairman lays out next steps for Sturgis Hospital

More information regarding Sturgis Hospital’s next course of action following Monday’s dismissal of Rob LaBarge as CEO has been provided by John Mayer, chairman of the hospital board. Mayer will oversee daily operations until an interim leader can be found and he has offered to serve in the role without compensation. He said the board will first seek a purchaser …

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Wind biggest factor in road conditions

From the perspective of a snow-plow operator for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, this week’s weather was actually considered mild, according to agency director John Lindsey. In his first winter as manager of the Centreville-based road commission, Lindsey said the snowfall this week was not major compared to other winter storms he and his crews have experienced in years …

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Local warming centers opened

Here is an updated list of warming centers in the area: KeyStone Place in Centreville open 24 hours; Salvation Army in Sturgis 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers, call as needed; Fairview Nursing Home in Centreville 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sturges-Young Civic Auditorium; Firm Foundation Ministries in Centreville; and Immaculate Conception in Three Rivers, …

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Road commission advises not to shovel snow into roadway

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has advised residents not to shovel or plow snow into the road. Agency officials caution residents to avoid the “second shovel” of having the ends of driveways shut with snow after a plow passes. Officials say the best way to avoid having to shovel a second time is to clear an area to the …

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Southern Michigan Bank & Trust announces promotions

John Castle, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust Chairman and CEO recently announced the promotions of officers Eric Anglin and Matt Moses. Anglin was promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Banking Services/Chief Deposit Officer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Tiffin University, and joined the bank in 2010. He advanced to the position of First Vice President, where he …

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Statement from Cass County Sheriff

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke advises that stuck vehicles blocking plows and current road conditions in Cass County are making travel unsafe.    Cass County area is experiencing near-blizzard conditions.  Frequent whiteouts, resulting in slide offs and stuck vehicles are causing dangerous road conditions for traveling emergency crews and road commission plows, in addition to record low wind chills and temperatures adding to life …

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Hospital CEO terminated in Sturgis

Sturgis Hospital has fired Rob LaBarge, its president and CEO. Little information is available about the situation other than the action took place during the hospital board’s monthly meeting Monday. Longtime hospital administrator John Mayer will replace LaBarge in an interim capacity until a permanent replacement can be found. LaBarge has been under scrutiny after the hospital announced in late …

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New principal at Sturgis Middle School

Chris Gerbers has been selected as principal at Sturgis Middle School. Gerbers has served 16 years as an administrator, teacher and coach for the past 16 years in Indiana. He had been a school administrator the past 11 years and comes to Sturgis from Hamilton, Ind., where he served as junior and senior high school principal the past three years. Gerbers …

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