A longtime Sturgis Township farm operation plans to launch a 4,000-head, commercial hog-raising operation next fall in cooperation with a Constantine feed mill. Two 420-by-40-foot commercial barns are planned for a 500-acre section of the 2,500- acre Fairgrove Farms, located between Shimmel and Stubey roads, with a three quarter-mile access road off Stubey. Jennifer Bennett and Bill Pueschel, representing Fairgrove …

Helen Virginia (White) Richardson, age 87, of Constantine, passed away Monday, April 27th, 2015 at Thurston Woods Village, Sturgis. She was born on August 5th, 1927 in Elizabethton, TN, a daughter of George and Lucy (Furchess) White. Helen attended Elizabethton Public Schools. On April 15, 1945 in Elizabethton, she married Allen DeWitt Richardson. He preceded her in death on May 30, 1994. …

Thomas Lowell Kimble, age 64, of Three Rivers passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Three Rivers on June 2, 1950 the son of Russell H. and Pauline Emily (Freese) Kimble, Sr. Tom was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He attended Three Rivers Schools and was employed …

George L. Cole, age 88, of Three Rivers passed away on Monday, March 2, 2015 at Three Rivers Hospital. He was born in Fabius Township to Delbert L and Ethel O (Stephenson) Cole on May 11, 1926. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until time of memorial services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at …

Nan Marie (Custard) Schmitz, age 73, of Mendon, died Monday, April 27, 2015 at her home following a long illness. She was born in Three Rivers, MI on June 4, 1941 the daughter of the late Donald and June (Happel) Custard and was a lifetime resident of Mendon. She graduated Mendon High School with the class of 1960. Nan worked …

This evening (Tuesday), the community gathers at Belle Epoque to celebrate Al Heivilin. Al was chosen as this year’s Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year. If you do not have a ticket for the banquet, I’m afraid you’re out of luck, because tickets will not be available at the door. On behalf of the Three Rivers Lions Club and …

Investigators from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department have identified the driver and vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident over the weekend. Sheriff Joe Underwood said evidence and witness statements have helped with the investigation into the death of 25-year-old Duke Gowens of Cassopolis. He was struck by a northbound car at 1:20 a.m. Sunday on M-40, north of Withers …

A planning, assessment and feasibility study related to a proposed addition to the county courts building in Centreville was approved last week. County commissioners agreed to the $72,500 cost to tap the expertise of the National Center for State Courts. The Denver-based agency will spend the next six months analyzing the county’s needs in advance of what will potentially be …

St. Joseph County officials last week approved a measure that will ultimately lead to a water and sewer infrastructure at a county park in Fawn River Township. Commissioners agreed to fund a $160,000 plan that will upgrade the services to Cade Lake Park and Campground, thanks to an existing line servicing the village of Burr Oak. County administrator Pat Yoder …

A Sturgis woman accused of stabbing her sister in October 2014 pleaded no contest last week. Erica Gosnell will be sentenced Friday. As part of an agreement, Gosnell pleaded no contest to assault with intent to murder. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s intern dismissed all other charges connected with the assault, along with a separate assault charge. The prosecutor’s office …