Public schools in St. Joseph County and the rest of Michigan begin the 2014-15 academic year today. In St. Joseph County, new superintendents can be found in Three Rivers and Colon, where Jean Logan and Vic Bugni, respectively, start the school year as leaders of their districts. Students in White Pigeon and Centreville will see the result of extensive work …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department wish to clarify that alleged sexual encounters between Sturgis firefighter Joshua Snyder and a then-15-year-old girl did not take place at a Sturgis school. Snyder was formally charged Wednesday with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third- degree CSC and two counts of fourth- degree CSC for a …

About 30-thousand walkers participated in this year’s Labor Day Mackinac Bridge walk. Just before Monday’s walk about 350 runners celebrated the Pure Michigan FIT campaign and hit the bridge deck to promote and encourage healthy physical activity in communities throughout Michigan. For the third year in a row, the Mackinac Bridge Authority and the Michigan Department of Transportation are asking the public to …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 24000 block of M-86 Friday in Nottawa Township regarding a breaking-and-entering incident.  According to a department media release, cash was taken and items inside an unoccupied dwelling were damaged.

Sturgis city commissioners last week approved tax exemptions for two local companies. Each exemption is for a 12-year period. The first was Parma Tube, for investing $450,000 in two CNC tube benders, a tube-end-forming machine and supporting equipment. The exemption will also help maintain 62 existing jobs and create three new positions. The other was granted to Morgan Olson, for …

State police said a bicycle was found last week in Mottville Township. The girls bicycle was located in an area along U.S. 12 and Vistula Road. The bicycle can be claimed by making positive identification and alerting the state police post in Coldwater, at 517-278-2373.

The RV industry is enjoying a smooth ride as the recession that devastated it fades into the distance.  Industry leaders say key manufacturers and suppliers have announced recent expansions, the stock market is at an all-time high and consumers are more confident in the future.  Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council executive director Mark Bowersox tells the South Bend Tribune the rebound …

Donald Elmer Harris, age 92, of Centreville, passed away Sunday, August 31, 2014 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers.  He was born in LaGrange, IN on June 26, 1922, a son of Donald and  Mildred (Pearson) Harris. On July 19, 1975 he married Virginia Boyland, she preceded him in death. Don was a Foreman at Kirsch Company, retiring Dec. 31, …

Lee Roy Cropsey, age 90, of Marcellus, MI, passed away Friday evening, August 29, 2014, at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, MI.        He was born May 4, 1924, in Wakelee, MI the son of Sherman Dewey and Bessie Irene (Griffis) Cropsey.  On April 9, 1950, in Edwards Corners Bible Church, Marcellus, MI, he married Evelyn R. Ritter who preceded him in death …

Donna Hackman, age 82, of Papillion, Neb., and a former White Pigeon resident, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, in Papillion.She was born Oct. 24, 1931, in White Pigeon, a daughter of the late Dalton and Hazel (Ford) McFall Sr.On Sept. 25, 1954, she married Victor L. Hackman in White Pigeon. He died Dec. 14, 2004.Her early life was lived …