A White Pigeon community activist plans to lead a door-to-door campaign to raise money toward fixing a Depot Park play structure. Lifelong village resident Shireen Cline said she decided to take action after noticing a slide component of a structure at the south end of Depot Park has been missing for two years. She said the corrugated plastic slide, which …

Robin Lynne Tilden, age 64, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday evening, April 7, 2021, at her home. She was born Dec. 17, 1956, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Maurice M. and Sharon Lou (Brown) Pippinger. Robin resided most of her life in Sturgis and was graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1975. She furthered her …

Brian (Bic) Keith Johnson, age 60, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at home. He was born Sept. 4, 1960, in Breckenridge, Minn. He was a son of the late Omer and Phyllis (Blouin) Johnson. Brian graduated from Wyndmere High School in 1978. He served in the United States Army as a radio operator and was stationed in …

John G. “The Bug” Kasner, age 70, of Constantine, died Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at his home. He was born March 20, 1951 in Highland Park, MI a son of Gerald and Edna (Phelps) Kasner. He graduated from Lapeer High School and went on to serve in the United States Army from 1981 to 1983. On May 3, 1980 he …

Thirteen of St. Joseph County’s 16 townships plan to take part in the 2021 matching-fund, road-improvement offer made by the county’s road commission. St. Joseph County Commissioner Dan Czajkowski cited the information during the board’s meeting Tuesday. He said the matter was discussed at a recent Roads Committee meeting, which typically involves township officials and representatives from the road commission. …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced St. Joseph County is nearing 100 COVID-related deaths. Through last week, the county had recorded 91 deaths that agency officials said are attributed to COVID-19. The number of cumulative cases in St. Joseph County since March 2020 is more than 4,500. Based on statistics provided by the agency, daily cases were steadily declining …

Several minor issues were resolved during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Two people were re-appointed to the Veteran’s Affairs Board: Park Township resident William Thompson and Bill Walters of Nottawa Township. Their terms are for a four-year period. Also, commissioners agreed to dedicate funds it received through the recent sale of the Covered Bridge Healthcare building into the county’s capital-improvement fund. …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a state of emergency in order to continue broadcasting its meetings electronically. During their first in-person meeting since fall, commissioners Tuesday agreed they will stick to assembling in person for their twice-a-month board meetings. The five-member commission, however, concurred it would be prudent to maintain public broadcast of their meetings via Zoom …

A citizen’s tip helped state police troopers and their investigation into a hit-and-run incident occurring earlier this week in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Troopers said the tip led them Tuesday to a residence on Hackman Road in Burr Oak Township, where they discovered the vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident. The 2005 Chevy Equinox was impounded for …

Discussions between Park Township and the Three Rivers Public Library appear to have ended, based on the outcome of a meeting between the two sides last week. Township officials and members of the library board have reached an impasse over renewal of a contract, which involves the township’s annual contribution to the library in exchange for its residents having in-district …