By Robert TomlinsonNews Director UPDATE 10:52 A.M.: Police say Vanwormer has been located and found safe as of 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5. The original story continues below. BURR OAK — The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the…

“Light Up The Night,” a vigil for Brittany Wallace Shank of Sturgis, took place Nov. 30 at Free Church Park in Sturgis.  It marked the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Shank. She went missing in 2018 in the 33000…

Three Rivers boys’ basketball drop close game in season openerSOUTH HAVEN — Three Rivers’ boys’ basketball team opened the 2023-24 regular season Tuesday at former Wolverine Conference foe South Haven, dropping a close game to the Rams by a final…

Now that Thanksgiving is in the history books for this year, it’s time to get started on the Christmas shopping. Most of the time our shopping adventures go smoothly, but every so often, we hit a speed-bump and need to…

Hastings, Michigan – Peter J. Straube, age 80, peacefully departed this world on November 20, 2023. He was born on September 25, 1943, to Esther Shirley Blood and Armond Dominic Agosti. Peter was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and…

Marilyn Ethel Ramp (nee Creager), age 80, of Centreville, MI passed away November 26, 2023 at Birch Meadows in Three Rivers, MI.  She was born on September 1, 1943 in Oak Park, IL, daughter to Franklin and Marian (Doherty) Creager. Marilyn…

David M. Broker, 69, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, November 25, 2023 at his home, surrounded by love. He was born May 14, 1954 in Three Rivers, the son of Jack and Margaret (Cassell) Broker, and graduated from Three…

Barbara Ann Culver, 79, of Portage, passed away Sunday, November 19, 2023 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 16, 1944, in Detroit, the daughter of Alvin and Anna Elizabeth (Grey) Bates and graduated…

Connie Lea Butcher, 77, of Jones, passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at her home. Visitation will be held Monday, December 4, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The holiday season has officially kicked off in Three Rivers.This past weekend, downtown Three Rivers hosted its annual Christmas Around Town celebration, what many people have considered over the years to herald in…

By Steve Eldridge BURR OAK — For the past 25 years, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at Burr Oak Community Schools has been the site of its annual Thanksgiving Feast, and the man behind it all has been a fixture at…

It’s time again for this newspaper’s annual Christmas Wish program. In the next few weeks we are asking readers that find themselves or their family in a dire situation to write us and in detail, tell us what you or…

All I want for Christmas is the return of free speech to America and the rest of the world. Free speech, long a credo of Democracy, has been hijacked by those that can’t stand others having a differing opinion. Thus,…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers had a relatively successful season on the field in many sports, and its teams and athletes were recently recognized with postseason honors.In football, six Wildcats were named to the Wolverine Conference…

Chris Howard Buckhold, age 83, of Sturgis, Michigan, passed away early Tuesday morning November 21, 2023 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.Chris was born July 31, 1940 in Three Rivers, Michigan, son of Howard and Frances (Tessin) Buckhold.He was a…

The Holiday Season will soon be upon us. It seems that every year merchants are getting ready for the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. Thanksgiving is this week, and Black Friday begins the day after Thanksgiving, however I’ve seen…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — In what is a rare sight at Three Rivers City Hall, city residents packed the commission chamber for Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, many of whom spoke out about their experiences with water quality…

By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved wage increases for hourly staff, organized in multiple job categories.In October, the district’s finance committee determined about $245,000 is available in the budget to use toward an…

Collectively called “Dashing Through Downtown,” it is presented by Sturgis Downtown Development Authority. Nov. 30: “Kristkindlmarkt,” 4-8 p.m., Pleasant Avenue, features vendors, cider and cocoa. Dec. 1: “Kristkindlmarkt,” 4-9 p.m., Pleasant Avenue; Santa visit, 4-7 p.m., Free Church Park, plus reindeer, cocoa…

By Dennis Volkert Ryan Banaszak, public safety director for the city of Sturgis, led a tour of the department’s facility for city commissioners on Nov. 8.It included an overview of firefighting vehicles, ambulance/EMS equipment, crew accommodations and office space.The department…