St. Joseph County received the first installment of its American Rescue Plan allocation Tuesday. County finance director Angie Steinman informed commissioners during their meeting Tuesday that the amount totaled $5.9 million. County officials have been told to expect a total of nearly $12 million. Steinman said she will await direction from county treasurer Kathy Humphreys to decide in which fund …

A few minor details were resolved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. A motion to approve what is labeled the L-4029 millage request was approved. The measure was necessary because it allows the county to levy the full 7.8575 mills to which it is entitled in order to collect property taxes. Equalization director Josh Simmons said the …

A dump truck collided with a semi tractor-trailer in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were dispatched at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday to the area of Michigan Avenue and Parkville Road. Investigators said a dump truck was traveling south on Parkville Road when its 78-year-old driver, a Constantine resident, failed to stop at the Michigan Avenue intersection. The dump truck …

Douglas Elden Keeslar, age 65, of McPherson, KS, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021, at McPherson Hospital. Prior to retirement, he had worked at Central Plastics as an extruder operator. Doug was born on April 14, 1956, in Salina, KS, the son of Elden R. and Phyllis J. (Miller) Keeslar. He graduated from Burr Oak High School in Burr Oak, …

An 18-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested last week after fleeing at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour from police in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies attempted to stop the driver shortly before 7 o’clock Friday evening on M-216 near U.S. 131. Authorities noticed the motorcycle was being driven at a high rate of speed. The …

A divided Vicksburg Village Council voted last month to prohibit smoking in the municipality’s newly created social district. By a 4-3 margin, council members agreed to prohibit smoking in the specially marked areas. The measure means anyone who wishes to light up must do so somewhere outside the boundaries of the social district. The matter arose in April, when a …

A St. Joseph County resident won the top prize in a $5 scratch-off game from the Michigan State Lottery. The 52-year-old-winner, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased the “Mystery Prize Cashword” ticket at Hoffman Street Grocery in Three Rivers. By matching 10 words in the game, the man won $300,000. He said the store clerk recommended the game, as it …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place last week in Lockport Township. Investigators were called May 25 to the 56000 block of North Main Street. The victim told authorities that a number of items were stolen, including two boats and an undisclosed quantity of power tools.

Michigan crossed a threshold in the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday with a lifting of certain restrictions at outdoor events and inside bars and restaurants. Masks no longer are required outdoors, and capacity limits are extinguished at outdoor sports events and concerts. Restaurants and bars can operate indoors at 50% capacity and can stay open past 11 p.m. There’s no limit on …

Debra Lynn Porter, age 73, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly Thursday evening May 29, 2021 at her home. She was born February 10, 1948 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Charles Walter and Lois Juanita (Hostetler) Poynter. Debra resided most of her life in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area with the exception of the years she lived in …