I was born here at Animal Control October 15, 2019.  I am the last of Cleo’s kittens.  My brothers and sisters have gotten adopted.  I am gentle and being a boy, I love to be active.  I don’t know why they named me Heckles.  It would be great to love on a new companion owner.  My docket number is 46931 at …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a reminder about kerosene safety, especially for families that rely on kerosene heaters to help heat their home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, supplemental heating equipment, such as a kerosene heater, is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February. Agency officials said kerosene …

The Sturgis Planning Commission recently voted to recommend amendments to zoning ordinances that would permit catering facilities and banquet halls within certain zoning districts. The ordinance would define catering facility as an establishment in which the principal use is the preparation of food and meals on the premises, and where such food and meals are delivered to another location for …

WHEELING, WV – Christmas came early for the Kalamazoo Wings (9-14-3-0) as they headed into the holiday break with a pair of victories. After a five-day break, the K-Wings will host the Indy Fuel and Fort Wayne Komets this Friday and Saturday night at Wings Event Center.  Game time is 7 pm for both games. On Friday, the Central Division …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved three exceptions to its hiring freeze. Tuesday’s votes resulted in authorization to hire an emergency services coordinator, a $75,000-a-year position that will become vacant effective Jan. 31. It was sought by undersheriff Mark Lillywhite. In a separate request, Lillywhite also was granted permission to hire a clerk/typist for the sheriff’s department. …

Ellen Eisele has been chosen as the 2019 recipient of the John E. Oster Award for Teacher Recognition. She was honored Monday at a luncheon hosted by Sturgis Rotary Club. Eisele, who came to Sturgis in 1990, was instrumental in piloting the Connected Mathematics Program, ensuring access to some of the finest teaching materials and professional development on the market. …

The Centreville Village Council voted Monday to have its lawyer develop a joint-ownership agreement for the Old Centreville Cemetery, under which the village and Nottawa Township would each own it equally. Nottawa Township had presented the village with an agreement under which the village and township would form the Old Centreville Cemetery Committee, consisting of one representative each from the …

The annual Shop With a Hero event was held last weekend in Sturgis. Twenty-seven students from Wall, Congress, Wenzel and Eastwood schools were selected by Sturgis Public School staff to participate in the event. The participants went shopping at Walmart with local heroes from the community. Each student received $ 90 to spend on presents, according to Sam Watson, Sturgis …

A Burr Oak man died Tuesday night following a single-vehicle accident in Burr Oak Township. Sheriff’s officials said the incident occurred at 9:18 p.m. on Middle Colon Road at Kibolski Road. According to a department media release, deputies were called to the scene and found that the vehicle was traveling north on Middle Colon Road. It left the east side …

Officials with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Department said work is progressing in Mendon to contact and test the water of a dozen homeowners who have wells with possible PFAs at dangerous levels. Paul Andriacchi, director of environmental health, said when a contamination site was first discovered a number of years ago, the village constructed a municipal water system. About a …