A volunteer team of eight people pulled more than 800 pounds of debris from the White Pigeon River during a clean-up event last weekend in Mottville Township. Staged by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, Saturday’s clean-up effort covered 2.7 miles between Vistula and Thomas roads. Conservation district administrator Jen Miller said the largest items retrieved included a fiberglass jeep …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place at some point over the past eight weeks in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a residence in the 33000 block of Palmer Road was entered, and a television and several firearms stolen. The stolen firearms are described as a 50-caliber black powder rifle, …

John Anton “Jack” Wigren, 89, residing in Granger, Ind., passed away at 12:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at The Hearth at Juday Creek. He was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Oak Park, Ill., to the late John Anton and Esther (Wengadahl) Wigren. On Sept. 10, 1949, Jack married the former Marlyn E. Olson at Albany Park Lutheran Church in …

Centreville Public Schools this week kicked off its campaign to promote the district’s November request for 2.95-mills over a 15-year period. The $12.8 million request, if approved, would allow the district to re-roof and upgrade its elementary and jr./sr. high buildings, update its technology infrastructure and purchase seven new buses over a 12-year period. A committee calling itself “Our Kids …

White Pigeon Police Sgt. Bill Burgoyne was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail for charges related to a driving-while-impaired incident in April. Burgoyne was sentenced Monday by Branch County Judge Brent Weigle, who ordered Burgoyne to serve the time in Branch County Jail. Despite a request for work release and community service, Burgoyne was sentenced to the 30 days, …

Centreville Elementary School will have 10 new iPads this academic year, thanks to a donation from the Monsanto Fund. The third of three donations made to St. Joseph County-based recipients took place prior to Monday’s Centreville Board of Education meeting. Angie Shotwell and Michael Ochsner, representing Monsanto’s Constantine plant, presented a ceremonial check to Superintendent Rob Kuhlman and board president …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Colon man after he was involved in a motorcycle crash Friday. According to a department media release, the 45-year-old man was driving north on North Centerville Road when he lost control and drove off the roadway near Mintdale Road. The man was wearing a helmet and refused medical treatment. Deputies found that …

State Police say a woman and another person were running across the highway in Kalamazoo County when she was hit by a semi and then run over by a Michigan Department of Transportation truck. It happened on Eastbound I-94 near 9th Street in Texas Township shortly before 11:00 P.M. Monday night.  The freeway was closed for a few hours while …

Next Monday, September 2, is Labor Day. Some of you may travel up to the Mackinac Bridge for the annual bridge walk. Others, like me, will prefer to stay home and off the dangerous highways. Be assured that you don’t need to head north to walk a bridge. The Three Rivers Woman’s Club will host their Third Annual Historic Three …

The more than 1.2 million Michigan residents who will travel this upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend will find the average gas price rose seven cents a gallon this week. Triple A Michigan says the current statewide average is just under $3.62 per gallon, but that’s 31 cents less than this same time last year. Among the cities it surveys, the …