A newly formed organization is designed to support foster care in the county and surrounding area, according to its executive director, Jeff Jennings. The organization is called Support for Hope and was created by a team of individuals wishing to do more to help support and assist children and families. The focus is to act as a facilitator to connect …

Court cases before St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton have returned to a livestream following a misunderstanding with state officials. The issue dates to March, when Middleton presided over a case that boosted his popularity on YouTube. The case involved a Sturgis defendant at the center of a domestic violence hearing. During the Zoom proceeding, attorney Deborah Davis …

National Honors Society members at Mendon High School last week continued a tradition that took a break last year. High school principal Robert Kretschman said the district has had a long-standing tradition in the annual community cleanup. Kretschman said the district had 21 kids downtown and about a dozen who worked around the district’s schools. Kretschman, who is finishing his …

The Parent Advisory Council of St. Joseph County has announced its annual winners for school personnel recognized for various categories. PAC is a group of parents whose children receive special education services in diagnostic categories in districts throughout the county. This year’s winners were: Erin Speer of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District for ancillary staff person of the …

A longtime performer at Abbott’s Magic Get-Together has opened the newest magic shop in Colon, and its first of what will be weekly stage shows takes place Saturday. Duane Laflin, who has enjoyed long-running shows in Branson, Mo., and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., recently finished renovating two-thirds of the former Magic City Hardware, turning it into a shop and stage/performance area. …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday loosened COVID-19 workplace safety rules so fully vaccinated employees can go without a mask and disregard distancing requirements. Industry-specific regulations were rescinded. Restaurants and bars, for instance, can reopen pool tables and dance floors. Cleaning standards were softened. As expected, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration also lifted a requirement that employers prohibit …

Next Monday, May 31, is Memorial Day. We should all show our pride and fly the American flag everyday, but if you don’t, you should do so especially on Memorial Day. It is a day we pay tribute to those men and women of our Armed Forces who have paid the ultimate price for their country. If you do fly …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has announced it will provide no-cost, weekly curbside COVID-19 testing through the end of June at locations in each of the three counties it represents. Health officer Rebecca Burns said tests are offered to residents as an opportunity to receive rapid results, typically within 30 minutes. Testing is 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays …

A trio of seniors from Three Rivers High School was awarded $1,000 scholarships through Midwest Energy & Communications. The scholarships were issued based on academic achievement, leadership and community involvement. They are also daughters of MEC customers. Madelyn Adams has been active with the high school marching and symphony bands, choir and theater. She plans to study wildlife biology at …

State Rep. Steve Carra has helped introduce a plan to allow law-abiding residents to carry a firearm without a permit. House Bills 4863-68 would repeal the requirement that a citizen who legally owns a firearm obtain a permit to carry it. The plan would authorize anyone not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm to carry anywhere that open or concealed-carry …