Here’s a reminder that all eight K-12 public school districts in St. Joseph County are participating in the “Meet Up and Eat Up” program to students 18 years of age and younger this summer. Burr Oak offers a meal to children 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The lunch includes next day’s breakfast. Centreville, Colon and Constantine offer a …

A Niles resident was injured in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 7:40 a.m. to the intersection of Cassopolis Road and Redfield Street in response to an accident with injuries. An initial investigation shows a southbound vehicle driven by Rebecca Geister, 42, of Niles, began to proceed through the …

Phyllis June Weiandt, age 82, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, June 21, 2021. She was born August 30, 1938 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Leonard and Lillian (Freese) Peters, and graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1956. Phyllis attended Moody Bible Institute after which she …

Marvin J. Schwartz, age 72, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, June 21, 2021 at his home. He was born May 15, 1949 in Sturgis, son of the late John P. and Katie (Wickey) Schwartz. Marv was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On January 22, 1972 he married Gerri Eichorn at the Locust Grove Mennonite Church in Burr Oak. Most …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer scaled back COVID-19 workplace safety rules on Tuesday, keeping mask and other requirements only in health care settings. The change coincided with the lifting of broad indoor capacity restrictions and face covering mandates that had been in place for 15 months. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new emergency rules align with federal regulations that aim to protect health workers …

Michigan is fully open again. After 15 months of capacity restrictions and being hit by the country’s worst surge of coronavirus infections this spring, Michigan’s restaurants, entertainment businesses and other venues can operate at 100% occupancy starting Tuesday. Limits on large indoor gatherings such as weddings and funerals are gone. So is a broad requirement that the unvaccinated be masked indoors, a …

St. Joseph County reached a dubious milestone, as its 100th person to die from COVID-19 was recorded late last week. Officials from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said the 100th death occurred 15 months after the pandemic first reached the county in March 2020. Agency officials said there have been more than 5,500 cases of the coronavirus in St. …

A Sherman Township residence was destroyed by fire that authorities believe was caused by a lighting strike. The incident occurred Friday morning during a storm that included a fair amount of lightning. A specific location of the residence was not indicated by authorities. Nobody was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries suffered by members …

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport reports continued growth in passenger traffic during the month of May. A year-by-year comparison shows growth of 788 percent compared to the COVID-decimated travel month of May 2020. Craig Williams, airport director, said the airport handled 14,088 passengers last month, up from 12,370 the month before. However, Williams said, the May 2021 count is down more …

Roman Brooks Hubbard-Penn was born peacefully sleeping on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 and had already departed us spiritually in his mother’s womb. Roman was born to Johnathan Penn and Brooklyn Hubbard of Sturgis. Roman spent his short life experiencing nothing but love and admiration. He enjoyed kicking his mom really hard after eating sour candy and doing somersaults when it …