Two counterfeit $20 bills were found in a customer’s deposit at First-Merit Bank, according to Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce. The bills have the same serial number and no hologram on the bottom right of the bill. Area officials are advising the public to be especially aware of bills $20 and larger, which have a tendency to surface during the …

Mendon Community Schools has become the third district in the county to raise its full-day pay for substitute teachers. Members of the district’s board of education Monday approved the full-day increase from $80 to $85. The move comes two weeks after Centreville Public Schools took an identical course of action, and more than a month after Three Rivers Community Schools …

The second of two candidates for the position of St. Joseph County human resources director is expected to confirm an interview date this week. County administrator Pat Yoder said the two finalists were chosen from a group of four people interviewed for the post. A total of 26 people applied for the job, which has been vacant since Elishia Arver …

Indiana Michigan Power has issued a media release to help its customers from falling victim to a phone scam. Electric-utility customers continue to be targeted by scammers who falsely represent themselves as company personnel in an attempt to collect money. In most cases, customers are contacted by phone and the caller threatens to cut off electric service if money is …

A 22-year-old man was arrested following a traffic-related incident Sunday. Sturgis police pulled over the driver of a Mustang near on Fawn River Road near South Centerville Road for an equipment violation. The driver of the Mustang attempted to switch into the passenger seat, and during the process, engaged the vehicle into reverse, according to police. The Mustang backed into …

Michigan lawmakers are breathing new life into bills that would force retailers such as Amazon.com to collect the state’s sales tax on Internet purchases.  The House on Tuesday prepared the legislation for a possible vote as early as Wednesday. Similar bills are pending in the Senate after a committee approved them last week.  Retailers with stores in Michigan must collect …

Donald Robert English, age 55, passed away early Tuesday, December 09, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice following a very brief and courageous battle with cancer. He was born on March 12, 1959 in Rushville, IN., the son of the late Thomas C. and Mary (Miller) English. Don graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1978. He began his thirty-six year …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the deer hunting harvest was down this year from last year during firearm season. According to preliminary estimates, the DNR says the number of deer killed appears to have decreased in all regions this year, but particularly in the Upper Peninsula. DNR biologists estimate that the harvest was down about 30 to 40 …

Uldeen L. Justice-Henry, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, at ThurstonWoods Village. She was born Sept. 16, 1924, in Florence Township, a daughter of the late Lowell L. and Aletha Irene (Hammond) Wadsworth. Mrs. Justice-Henry called Sturgis her home for the past 20 years, coming from Centreville. In 1942, Uldeen married Ireland Justice Jr. in Centreville. …

Two weeks from this Thursday is Christmas. The next couple of weeks will be filled with the usual Christmas parties. My wife and I will attend our share. We’re both retired, so she’ll not be attending any school parties, and I won’t be attending any company gatherings. We will attend several Christmas parties hosted by various Lions Clubs in our …