St. Joseph County Road Commission received confirmation it will receive a federal grant to help cover a project in Constantine Township. The funding is part of a package approved at the federal level Tuesday. The legislation secured funding to help the road commission make improvements to North River Road. The 131 bypass, which opened west of Constantine in 2013, has …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by two-tenths of a percent from November. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.4 percent in November to 4.2 percent in December. The county’s December rate from a year earlier was 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, Cass …

A 57-year-old Sturgis man was arraigned Monday on charges related to multiple counts of criminal-sexual conduct. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said Raymond Bontrager allegedly sexually assaulted a minor from 2016 to 2025, starting when the victim was 6-years-old. According to investigators, the alleged abuse continued until the summer of 2025, when the now-15-year-old victim disclosed the alleged assaults …

No injuries were reported following a house fire in Fabius Township. Fabius-Park Fire Department officials said crews were dispatched at 3 a.m. Jan. 24 to the 11000 block of Lakeshore Drive. First-arriving crews observed an active attic fire in a single-story residence. Crews also noted an abundance of heavy snoke emitting from the residence. With aid from Three Rivers Fire …

A Union City man died in a two-vehicle crash last week in Calhoun County’s Burlington Township. Investigators said a Jeep was traveling east on M-60 near 9 Mile Road, where it lost control, crossed the centerline and struck a westbound semi, according to Michigan State Police. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. The 49-year-old victim was pronounced dead at …

Officials from Colon Area Chamber of Commerce have added a daytime meeting periodically to accommodate people who may not be available for the chamber’s monthly evening meeting. Its regular meetings are at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. However, to better serve members and residents, daytime gatherings will be held at noon on various dates. The first daytime …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department wishes to acknowledge a resident for her help with a special project. Sheriff Chad Spence gave a shoutout on Facebook to Karla Arvizo, who led a project organized by Deputy Veronica Hoggard and Undersheriff David Northrop. Spence said Arvizo, who owns the Sturgis-based business Costuras Karla, created teddy bears for children who have been victimized …

Branch County Sheriff’s Department has announced its receipt of a $100,000 grant to help offset the cost of body-worn cameras. The funding was provided by Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority. A portion of the money will go toward in-car camera projects, according to Sheriff Fred Blankenship. He said the grant lessens the impact on Branch County taxpayers while enhancing accountability, …

The boil-water advisory in effect the past week in Constantine has been lifted. Village officials said the situation was the result of a water-main break Jan. 23. All required water testing has been completed within the required timeframe and results have met state of Michigan standards for drinking water. The advisory was lifted late Wednesday.

White Pigeon Township Library officials provided encouraging news related to a project currently underway. Director Perri Saunders said the “104 Project” allows the library to add a fenced-in greenspace with pavilion on property it purchased at 104 N. Kalamazoo St. A house on the property – located just north of the library – has been demolished and the land excavated. …