The St. Joseph County Conservation District is inviting the public to participate in the first of a series of tree-planting events scheduled to take place over the next year. As part of Project ReLEAF, about 125 native hardwood trees will be planted Thursday morning in a quarter acre area off Marcellus Road in Park Township. The goal is to plant …

“Save The Frogs!” No, this isn’t some Sci-Fi movie coming to a theater near you. It’s an event that started last year, and because of its cause and popularity, it’s happening again this year. I mentioned this event a couple of months ago and gave you a preview of what will happen this year. I mentioned at the time that …

Robert and Laurie Rastovski will get a new trial for their claim against North Pointe Insurance Company after their business, Welch’s Steak and Ribs in Sturgis, was leveled in a 2009 arson. The insurance company refused to pay on the policy after it claimed Robert Rastovski had hired an arsonist to burn the business on Fawn River Road. During the …

Organizers of the 2014 Burr Oak Heritage Festival are inviting the public to be a part of a Vaudeville-style show taking place during the four-day community celebration. The show will be featured July 25. Organizers said they are looking for comedians, singers, ventriloquists, dancers, musicians, small animal acts, contortionists, tumblers, actors, jugglers, weight lifters or any act that can keep …

Legal Services of South Central Michigan will conduct interviews for legal advice and possible representation at no charge to interested seniors. The first event will be 11 a.m. to noon June 13 at Sturgis Senior Center, 304 N. Jefferson St. A second will be 10 to 11 a.m. June 18 at Pine Valley Place, 1050 Canaris St., Constantine. Legal Services …

Glen Oaks Community College has implemented its summer hours. The campus will be closed on Fridays through Aug. 8. Summer hours for campus offices are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday for administrative offices; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for student services; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday …

Sturgis resident Adam Parker has been awarded the Professor Emeritus B. Swartz Scholarship for Excellence in Mathematics. Parker recently graduated from Glen Oaks Community College with an Associate of Business degree and plans to begin classes at Grand Valley State University in the fall to complete his bachelor’s degree in accounting. The $ 1,000 scholarship is awarded to a Glen …

Unemployment in St. Joseph County was 1 percent lower in April compared to March. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives show the county’s April unemployment figure was 5.5 percent, down from 6.5 percent in March. The 5.5 percent rate was also lower than the county’s 6.9 percent unemployment compared to the same month in 2013. …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced its 2014 river cleanup schedule. Jen Miller, administrator of the Centreville-based agency, said there will be fewer cleanups this year, as eight per summer the past three summers seemed to limit the number of volunteers. The fourth season of the cleanup project starts Saturday on the Fawn River in White Pigeon Township, …

White Pigeon village officials have agreed to spend about $2,600 to replace damaged and faded street signs. During Wednesday’s village council meeting, the seven-member panel heard president Dan Czajkowski explain that many of the village’s signs are difficult to read because of their age and years-long effects of the elements. He said it is a matter of safety that the …