Slowly and carefully, St. Joseph County government is reopening to the public. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners were told by county administrator Teresa Doehring that it is time to move to Phase 2 of the county’s Preparedness Response Plan. The step includes reopening specific departments to the public beginning Monday. She said if necessary, plans will be adjusted …

St. Joseph County commissioners agreed to stage their Tuesday board meeting via Zoom and then consider going back to in-person meetings starting in July. The matter was discussed during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. If commissioners go back to in-person meetings, their July 1 executive committee meeting would then be held at the courthouse and their July 7 board meeting would …

Constantine Township Library has begun curbside service. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p. m. Saturday. Patrons may reserve items by phoning 435-7957 or online at constantine.michlibrary. org. When reserved items are ready, patrons will be notified by phone and have 24 hours for pickup, after which items will be …

Westside Landfill Recycling Center confirmed Tuesday it will continue its quarterly Styrofoam recycling collection, resuming the program this weekend. Fabius Township Supervisor John Kroggel, who has helped organize the collection since its inception a few years ago, said he is prepared to go ahead with Saturday’s event. It will take place 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 60050 Roberts Road, on …

A White Pigeon business is preparing to celebrate a milestone few others in St. Joseph County have been around long enough to experience. The Tasty Nut Shop is a century old this year and owner Marjorie Hamminga said a celebratory open house is schedule 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. She said door prizes, refreshments and fanfare will be a …

Michigan State Police troopers are appealing to the public for help in identifying a suspect who assaulted two adolescent males. According to a department media release, the incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Mottville Canoe Park, off Riverside Drive in Mottville Township. Specific details were not included in the release. The suspect is identified as a white male in …

Sturgis Farmers Market has opened for the season. It is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at TSC parking lot on South Centerville Road. The market plans to remain open through October. For safety reasons, vendors will take merchandise to people in their vehicles during the pandemic and if they have mobility issues, upon request. Three Rivers will not …

Fire destroyed a vacant home last week in Sturgis, and two other fires in the city occurred over the weekend. The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched just before 11 p.m. Friday to 223 Susan St., and arrived at the scene to find the home fully engulfed. The structure quickly began to collapse. Firefighters were able to stop flames from spreading …

This week’s Centreville Downtown Development Authority’s stimulus program was declared a success. A line of cars was waiting at Southern Michigan Bank & Trust’s Centreville branch as it opened for business Monday morning. As a component of the program, the village’s DDA committed $5,000 to support non-franchise, non-chain retail businesses within its district. Four restaurants and two hair salons chose …

Two men from Three Rivers were arrested following a pursuit that ended in Park Township Monday morning. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called around 11 a.m. to the area of Harrison Road, near Crampton Road in Mottville Township, in an effort to locate a stolen truck from Elkhart County. In the meantime, the vehicle was located by detectives from …