Local News

New nonprofit holds adoption event

STURGIS — On Saturday, July 29 at the Tractor Supply Company in Sturgis, Just Another Farm & Rescue hosted an adoption and fundraising event. Devin Heitger, president, said she hoped the event would connect animals with their forever families. “We are trying to get them homes with low cost...

No Big Deal is a big deal to White Pigeon

WHITE PIGEON — A cappella group, No Big Deal, had the crowd snapping, clapping, laughing, and scatting at the White Pigeon Library on Saturday afternoon. Perri Saunders, library director, said No Big Deal was invited to perform at the library as a part of their Summertime Tunes series. “...

A blast from the past

THREE RIVERS — A crowd of classmates and old friends flooded the streets of downtown Three Rivers for the Three Rivers High School 50s and 60s reunion on Friday, July 28. Bob Sills, the event’s coordinator, said 200 people from the classes of 1956 to 1969 attended the annual private event. “The...

‘Pomp and Circumstance at its finest’

NORFOLK, Va. — The United States Navy commissioned the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) on Saturday, July 22. Robert Henicky and Mary Balkema, Kalamazoo county residents, had the privilege of attending the ceremony in Norfolk, Va. Henicky, who brought Balkema as his guest, said he was invited to the...

Summer school students excel

THREE RIVERS — As the third week of summer school at Andrews Elementary comes to a close, more and more kids, grades K-3, are reaching personal educational milestones. Bob Brooks, coordinator of the summer school program, said the program has been successful, so far, with its promotion of reading...

Changing lives one page at a time

CENTREVILLE — Free literacy tutoring is being offered to adults in St. Joseph County. The St. Joseph County Literacy Council was formed in 1986 and gained federal 501C3 nonprofit status in 2005. John “JD” Yoder, executive director, said the organization’s main goal is to improve adult literacy in...

‘We like to recreate not only the look of the past, but also the ambiance’

THREE RIVERS — Bruce Monroe has always had a deeply rooted connection to the town where he has built homes, careers, and raised three children. Monroe considers himself “home grown,” for he was born at the Three Rivers Hospital in 1949, attended Ruth Hoppin Elementary, and graduated from Three...

General land office presentation given at Constantine Rotary

CONSTANTINE — Don Fox, a member of Sturgis Rotary, did a program on the General Land Office in White Pigeon, the oldest surviving land office in Michigan, at a Tuesday, July 25 meeting of Constantine Rotary. White Pigeon was the largest town west of Tecumseh, and was the county seat until...

Constantine All-Stars blanked by Western LL in state tourney opener

SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP — The state tournament got off to a rough start for the Constantine 9-11 year-old All-Star baseball team in Thursday’s state tournament at Swan Park. Constantine, the Michigan District 15 champions, dropped an 11-0 decision to the Western Little League All-Stars from District...

Youth learn mechanics of shooting at Miller’s U-Can-Shoot Clinic

THREE RIVERS — A spirited group of area youth gathered at Three Rivers HealthTrac basketball court Thursday to hone their skills at Pat Miller’s U-Can-Shoot Clinic. The one-day clinic ran from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Miller, a former assistant coach at Michigan State University and shooting...