Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution urging the suspension on winter high school contact sports be lifted. The “Let Them Play” resolution has been supported by a number of Michigan school districts. Also during their meeting Tueday, commissioners also approved Ryan Banaszak and Sandy Hall to the board that oversees Community Mental Health …

Sturgis Area Community Foundation collaborated with local service clubs last month to provide a number of grants to Sturgis teachers. With support from the foundation, Sturgis Noon Kiwanis Club, Sturgis Eastside Kiwanis Club and Sturgis Lions Club, the grants were awarded in support for classroom grants benefiting 13 local teachers. The grants were awarded for “Leader in Me” take-home bags; …

Darrel Detwiler has joined the Clark Logic team in the role of Director of Safety and Compliance effective February 1. Darrel comes to Clark Logic with a myriad of experience which includes 11 years working with Central Manufacturing Services from 1987 to 1998 and most recently at Pfizer, from 1998 to 2021. In his new role, Darrel will create and …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees recently administered the oath of office to its new and returning board members, as well as approved installation of officers for the year. Accepting the oath of office were new board member Joe Haas, and Nancy Percival, who returns to the board for a third term. The board also voted on its slate …

Fire damaged a Sturgis residence last week. Crews were called at 7:30 a.m. Friday to the 800 block of East Main Street, where personnel noticed fire at the rear, exterior portion of the structure. Sturgis Police officers were first to arrive and managed to contain the blaze with hand-held extinguishers. Firefighters entered the home and safely removed a dog before …

Michigan State Police troopers responded to a retail-fraud incident last week in Branch County’s Girard Township. Authorities were called to the Lion’s Den, on Jonesville Road near I-69. Video footage shows a white female in her mid-30s with blonde hair. The suspect was wearing blue jeans with gray thigh high boots and a pink top. The suspect was carrying a …

Lisa Deann (VanScoik) Barnes, age 58, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born February 12, 1962 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Marvin and Wanetta (Postma) VanScoik. Lisa graduated from Three Rivers High School, and later studied massage therapy at Olympia University. She worked for …

Six St. Joseph County firms recently received state-training grants. A total of $39 million in grants from the “Going PRO Talent Fund,” were available, and designed to train and certify new workers. American Axle Manufacturing of Three Rivers received $149,000, the largest grant in the county. Morgan Olsen in Sturgis received $126,000, the second largest. Other local firms receiving grants …

Sophia Ryan, a sophomore at Glen Oaks Community College and Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology majoring in agricultural operations, competed last month in the Michigan Farm Bureau Collegiate Young Farmers Discussion Meet. To compete, Ryan videotaped a 10-minute response to an agricultural-related question. She was selected as a top-four finalist in the state. Ryan then competed in a …

The first medical-marijuana dispensary in St. Joseph County opened over the weekend. The Dude Abides, a medical-marijuana provisioning center at 160 N. Washington St. in Constantine, offers different types of edibles and several varieties of resin. The facility currently is able to serve only to medical-marijuana cardholders, but co-owner Cass Root said plans are in the works to offer products …