Here’s an updated listing of St. Joseph County Fresh Food Distribution events for September. The first event of the month will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 14 in Centreville at Seventh Day Adventist Church. Next, Gateway Village Apartments in Sturgis will be the site of a distribution at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16. Two additional events will take place Sept. 16. …

State Rep. Steve Carra is seeking dismissal of Liza Estlund Olson as acting director of the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency. Olson replaced former Director Steve Gray, who resigned in November 2020. Carra said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s unilateral lockdown orders forced hard-working people to seek unemployment assistance, but they were met with an agency unprepared for the task at hand. A …

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Western Michigan University from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine requirement against four female soccer players, ruling they are likely to prevail on claims it violates their constitutional religious rights. District Judge Paul Maloney in Grand Rapids, however, denied a motion by an employee who challenged Michigan State University’s broader vaccination mandate. He issued the temporary restraining …

Kurk D. Bernheisel, age 57, of Leonidas, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Kurk was born a son to Kenneth and Alma “Jeanie” (Hochstetler) Bernheisel, on November 22, 1963, in Battle Creek. Kurk’s greatest love was watching his daughter Kendalynn play sports. Surviving Kurk is his daughter Kendalynn Bernheisel of Leonidas, mother Jeanie Berheisel of …

Doris Bernice Brubacher, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at her home. She was born July 1, 1929 in LaGrange County, IN a daughter to the late Perry and Marie (Troyer) Hostetler. Doris has been a resident of Sturgis for the past 16 years and had previously resided in Burr Oak for over 38 years. On …

State Sen. Kim LaSata on Wednesday announced L.A.’s Coffee Cafe in Three Rivers as the next recipient of her Small Business of the Month award. L.A.’s Coffee Cafe was founded in 2000 by Leslie, Jerry and Aimee Robbins. The family opened up shop in an old pump house above the Rocky River, and their business has grown into a staple of the …

Marelee Ann Hawver, age 73, passed away on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation, Three Rivers.  Marelee was born in Sturgis on January 12, 1948, a daughter of Clarence and Inez Pauline (Maxwell) Maystead.  She attended Burr Oak and Sturgis Schools, graduating in 1966.  On June 10th, 1967, she married Donald Hawver; they were later divorced.  Marelee …

A horse in Livingston County was recently diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Additionally, EEE-positive mosquitos have been identified in Barry County, according to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Officials said the cases highlight the need for both horse owners and Michigan residents in general to take safeguards against the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes to animals and people. It …

The 2021-22 academic year got underway Monday at Glen Oaks Community College and school officials said it has about 1,000 students enrolled, up 2 percent from the first day of class in 2020. Preliminary figures show enrollment for traditional students is up, with 611 students at 63 percent while 365 high-school students comprise 37 percent of the student-body total. College officials …

Sturgis Toy Run officials said the annual ride around St. Joseph County will not be held this year. The cancellation marks the second consecutive year the Sturgis Toy Run is not taking place. Traditionally staged the Saturday after Labor Day, the Toy Run is an opportunity for motorcyclists to bring toys and money to purchase items for children in need …