St Joseph County

The Three Rivers Lady Wildcats basketball team fell short of returning to the state finals for a second consecutive year. Three Rivers was on the short end of a 35-21 defeat Friday at the hands of Battle Creek Harper Creek. The Beavers upped their record to 20-3 and advance to regional action in Hamilton. The Lady Wildcats, meanwhile, finish the …

The Sturgis Journal announced it is no longer printing its newspaper in Sturgis, as the job has been passed on to a sister company in Allegan. Saturday’s edition of the six-day-a-week newspaper was the final copy produced on the 38-year-old presses at the Journal’s John Street office. Fourteen jobs were lost as a result of the move, which was orchestrated …

For the third consecutive season, a district championship in girls varsity basketball will involve Three Rivers and Battle Creek Harper Creek. The two high school powers clash at Battle Creek Pennfield High School at 7 o’clock tonight.  We’ll carry the game live on WRCI 97.1 beginning at 6:50pm.  We’ll also stream the game at www.wrciradio.com. Three Rivers sports an 18-3 …

The Sturgis District Library has issued a notice advising patrons that it will be closed from Saturday through March 12, as new carpet is being installed. Library officials said the current carpet is 18 years old and is showing its wear. They said approximately 1.5 million people have patronized the library over the time period. The children’s room is expected …

Emergency crews responded Wednesday afternoon to a diesel fuel spill on U.S. 131 in northern St. Joseph County. Sheriff’s Department personnel said a semi tractor-trailer was heading north when its driver’s side, front tire blew out. The force of the blown tire punctured the fuel tank, investigators said. Traffic was reduced to one lane while emergency personnel tended to the …

Kadant Johnson is asking potential participants in the second annual Hoops for Hope – a 3-on-3 corporate basketball tournament – to start forming and register their teams. The fundraiser, to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Three Rivers, will take place at 9 a.m. March 24 in the Three Rivers High School gymnasium. Event organizers said 100 …

A full-service grocery store in business for more than 30 years in Sturgis announced Wednesday it is closing by the end of the month. Officials from Miller’s Super-Valu said competition from Wal-Mart and other stores and markets in town is too significant to overcome. Mike Doust, general manager of LaGrange, Ind.-based Miller’s, said the Sturgis location simply couldn’t generate enough …

State Rep. Matt Lori said he has filed paperwork to make official his candidacy for re-election this fall. Lori, 55, is starting the final year of his second two-year term. By law, he can serve in the position for a total of three, two-year terms. The Constantine-area resident and former sheriff of St. Joseph County said he has enjoyed serving …

The first day of ticket sales for Alan Jackson’s appearance this fall at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair was overwhelming, fair manager Bill Johnson said. Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday and a line of more than 250 people was in place outside the fairgrounds ticket window. At the head of the line was a group that …

A memorial marker commemorating the spot where Calista Springer died in a house fire was decorated Monday by people remembering the four-year anniversary of the Centreville girl’s death. The 16-year-old Springer suffered smoke inhalation and was burned while chained to her bed when a faulty vacuum sweeper started the fire. Balloons, flowers and stuffed animals were left at the marker …