Recent Posts

Battle Creek man arrested on CSC charges

A Battle Creek man has been arraigned on charges following an alleged incident with a minor. Officials from the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office said Noble Vater Lebron, a 23-year-old theater director, is charged with felony counts of third-degree, criminal-sexual conduct with a minor and accosting a child for immoral purposes. County officials said Lebron allegedly had sexual contact in November …

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Centreville FFA plans fundraiser

Centreville High School’s Future Farmers of America is staging a fundraiser to support the county-wide agriculture education program. The 2026 Fresh Strawberry and Barn Jam Salsa Sale offers a number of products, from various flavored jams, pickles and jalapeno honey mustard to sauces, salsa and fresh strawberries. Prices range from $28 for eight pounds of Florida strawberries to $10 for …

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Union City man sentenced after fleeing country

A Union City man who fled the country after facing charges of criminal-sexual conduct has been sentenced to prison. Anthony Cuyler, 48, was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison, according to Branch County Prosecutor Zachary Stempien. Cuyler was charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of delivery of methamphetamine to a minor. Stempien …

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Vicksburg considers selling golf club

Vicksburg officials are exploring the idea of selling Angels Crossing Golf Club. Details of the proposal were laid out by Village Manager Jim Mallery during the council’s Feb. 2 meeting. Mallery said the village purchased the course out of bankruptcy around 2010. It finally turned a profit for the first time in 2015, Mallery said. He said the village’s investment …

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Identity released of fatal fire victim

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department have released the identity of the woman who died in a camper fire last weekend in Lockport Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said the victim is 67-year-old Juanita Kimble, a Three Rivers-area resident. Spence said emergency personnel were dispatched late Friday to the 57000 block of Mitchell Street, near the Three Rivers airport, …

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Community Action diaper drive begins

Community Action is organizing a diaper drive for eligible St. Joseph County residents. Agency officials ask that anyone interested in receiving diapers to call the Community Action Sturgis Center. Its number is 659-9047. The distribution takes place at 306 S. Nottawa St., in Sturgis. It features a one-month supply of diapers or pull-ups, along with wipes. It also has help …

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Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste facility opens this weekend

Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste facility will be open Saturday. Through an agreement with Kalamazoo County, St. Joseph County residents are able to patronize the drop-off site at no cost. The collection center is open just one Saturday a month, in addition to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly. Hours this weekend are 8 a.m. to noon. Items accepted at the …

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Colon resident sentenced in embezzlement case

A Colon resident has been sentenced for embezzling more than $100,000 from customers of a local financial institution. Angela Vanderstraaten, 46, was ordered last week to serve up to 40 years, a sentence issued by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Vanderstraaten previously worked for eight years as a teller at Omni Credit Union in Colon, where she …

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Farrand Hall wins chili cook-off

Saturday’s chili cook-off event in Three Rivers over the weekend produced a top-three lineup of winners based on a public vote. First place went to the newly opened Farrand Hall, while runner-up was GG’s Cookies. Third-place winner was Daly Dope Dispensary. A field of 10 participants representing Three Rivers-based businesses took part in the downtown-focused event, which was rescheduled from …

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Local fresh food distributions

Here’s a look at February’s Fresh Food Distribution events in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, hosts the first distribution of the month. It starts at 4 o’clock Tuesday. First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis is next. Its distribution is at 4 p.m. Thursday at 1320 S. Lakeview Ave. Constantine High School hosts the following event, …

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