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November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent from October. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.7 percent in October to 4.6 percent in November. The county’s November rate from a year earlier was 3.5 percent. Meanwhile, Cass …

St. Joseph County Transportation Authority provided more rides last week as part of its “New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home” than it did a year before. The six-hour service started at 7 p.m. Tuesday and attracted a total of 18 people, according to CTA Director Allen Balog. The mark was two people more compared to the eve of 2024. Balog …

Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued a media release with suggestions for how to best discard live Christmas trees. Agency officials say many trees are classified as softwoods – including balsam and Douglas fir – and they are often too dense for most fish to use as a habitat. So, as an alternative option, the DNR encourages creating a brush …

A very Happy New Year to all! I’m finally scheduled for my open-heart surgery on Wednesday, January 8, at 7:30AM. This means that for the rest of this month, my columns will include more items from my files of “Miscellaneous Stuff”. I appreciate your patience. More clever comments worth saving: Eat well, stay fit, die anyway. Men are from earth. …

The four-year term of St. Joseph County Sheriff Chad Spence became official Thursday with a swearing-in ceremony at Sturges Young Center for the Arts. Spence was elected sheriff during a five-man race in the primary election, topping challengers that included Jason Bingaman and Dennis Allen. Incumbent Mark Lillywhite chose to not seek re-election. Also involved in Thursday’s ceremony was David …

Here’s a look at January’s Fresh Food Distributions in St. Joseph County. First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis hosts the first distribution, starting at 4 p.m. Jan. 9. Its address is 1320 S. Lakeview Ave. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, is the site of the next distribution. It, too, starts at 4 o’clock and takes place Jan. 14. …

Sturgis Downtown Development Authority officials have announced their first event of the new year. The 2025 Winter Blues takes place 5:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 17 in the city’s downtown district. Winter Blues will feature plenty of live music in participating businesses, themed drinks at Wings, Etc. and a Hot Cocoa Tour. There will also be food vendors, the sport …

More than 100 people showed up Wednesday for a benefit 5K to support a Centreville teacher recovering from breast cancer. “Love for Laura,” organized by longtime friend Michelle Smith of Vicksburg, was coordinated to recognize Laura Wilson. Wilson is an English/language arts teacher at Centreville Junior High. She previously taught 19 years at Vicksburg Middle School. Participants included several Centreville …

A longtime administrator with Sturgis Public Schools passed away last month. Larry McConnell died Dec. 21 at the age of 92. He had served as Sturgis superintendent for 18 years during a span that included the 1990s. After retirement, McConnell remained active in the community. He served on the Thurston Woods Village Board of Directors and was a past president …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters recently issued a media release regarding actions he has helped take to prevent oil spills in the Great Lakes. Peters said he and others took action after realizing the state isn’t adequately equipped to handle a potential spill in the Great Lakes. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise was created. …