The Constantine Downtown Development Authority has created a new grant program to offset costs of modifying existing, older buildings. DDA director Diana Lammott said older buildings sometimes require additional costs to make the space usable. Through the matching-grant program, the DDA will pay up to half the cost of a project, with the remainder coming from the building or business …

The Great Start Collaborative of St. Joseph County is offering a new class just for men. Dads, granddads and any other male caregivers are welcome to attend. The event, called “Conscious Discipline: The Guys Group,” will feature open discussion about parenting. The group will meet from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Sept. 3 and concluding Nov. 12. It’ll meet …

Members of the Constantine Village Council voted this week to approve the final draft of a proposed adult-use marijuana ordinance. Once completed, the draft will be submitted to county clerk Lindsay Oswald. The council has discussed details in the proposed ordinance since a decision in May to put recreational marijuana on the Nov. 3 ballot. Village manager Mark Honeysett said …

June’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was significantly lower than the previous month, but still higher than usual due to jobs impacted by COVID-19. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which showed the county’s drop in unemployment, was released last week. St. Joseph County’s 13 percent unemployment rate for June was down …

Saturday’s Centreville Downtown Development Authority stimulus gift certificate program was declared a success, as all of the gift certificates sold out in 35 minutes. DDA program manager Pattie Bender said 280 $25 gift certificates were purchased and matched by an additional $25 thanks to financial support from the Centreville DDA, Covered Bridge Days Committee and St. Joseph County United Way. …

Indiana Michigan Power will conduct aerial inspections of its high-voltage lines from a helicopter beginning today. The inspections will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and help maintain the reliability of the electric transmission system, company officials said. The flights are scheduled to inspect transmission lines in I&M’s Indiana service territory, which includes Southwest Michigan, and will be conducted …

An update on the fiscal health of St. Joseph County was provided during Wednesday’s board of commissioners executive committee meeting, and finance director Angie Steinman provided a small dose of good news. She said the county’s 2020 budget, approved in December, would require a $414,000 use of fund balance based on projections. She explained, however, that through various money-saving measures, …

The Three Rivers and Sturgis Area chambers of commerce have invited candidates for local races to participate in video-recorded candidate interviews. Chamber officials said the purpose is to educate voters on who the candidates are and what issues they support. All candidates were invited and videos for those who participated are available online. The web address is https://trchamber.com

The Kalamazoo Wings announced their first signing for the 2020-21 season, forward Raymond Brice. Brice, 24, and a native of Houghton, Michigan, was captain of the Michigan Tech Huskies last season.  In 28 games last year, Brice scored six goals.  During his four years at Michigan Tech, Brice played 95 games, scoring 13 goals and adding 13 assists. “We have …

If anyone wants a champion “Purrrrrrer” adopt me.  My motor starts to run the minute you touch me.  I am goofy, playful, smart, loving, and Lots and Lots of Fun.  I am a domestic short hair, black and white male, about 15 weeks old.  My docket number is 48611, at the St. Joseph County Animal Control Shelter located at 652 …