A segment of alley on the north side of Main Street in Centreville will become one-way, following a decision last month by members of the Centreville Village Council. Traffic between Dean and Nottawa streets will begin to flow west-to-east only. Council members said signage will be posted to clarify the direction. Trustee Gary McClain recommended the change for safety reasons, …

Members of the Sturgis Planning Commission last month approved a special land use for Prism Power Partners to open a solar energy facility near the intersection of South Centerville and Bogen roads. The company intends to perform site preparation by the end of 2019 and be operational in September 2020. According to officials, the “Electric City” solar facility would generate 15 …

Bruce P. Loker, age 89, of rural Vicksburg, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Fulton on March 21, 1930 the son of Perry C. and Marian (Vance) Loker. He graduated from Athens High School, and served in the U.S. Army for two years as a Military Policeman. Bruce was married …

Elva A. Root, age 102, of Burr Oak, passed away peacefully Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at home. Elva was born May 6, 1917, in Huntley, Ill., a daughter of the late John William and Agnes (Schmalz) Anderson. On Dec. 31, 1942, Elva married Robert (Bob) E. Root in Rockford, Ill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob (July …

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday made an exception to its self-imposed hiring freeze and allowed prosecutor John McDonough to pursue employing an assistant prosecutor. McDonough, who is in the midst of completing his 11th year as prosecutor, said funding for the position is in the department’s 2019 fiscal year budget. The department’s prosecutor roster is …

A Cass County K-9 team successfully tracked two men allegedly responsible for breaking into a residence last weekend in Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 5 p.m. Sunday to the 19000 block of Hoffman Road in response to an aggravated-battery incident. Deputies said two subjects entered a residence and got into a physical altercation with the …

A Sturgis man was arrested last week on an undisclosed warrant. According to a Sturgis Police Department media release, the 40-year-old man was seen at 11:35 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of South Centerville Road. Officers noticed he was discarding items from his possession. A search of the area resulted in the discovery of narcotics-related items, police said. The …

Two of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts began classes today. The start of Sturgis Public Schools and Nottawa Community School today comes on the heels of Burr Oak Community Schools commencing its 2019-20 academic year Tuesday. Elsewhere, Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon, Three Rivers and White Pigeon all begin Monday and all have a half day.

The Kalamazoo Wings announced their first player signing for the upcoming season.   Fan favorite and long-time K-Wing, Justin Taylor, has signed to return to the team. Taylor, 30, will be suiting up for his 10th season in Kalamazoo.  Signing with the K-Wings in 2010, Taylor has played the majority of his career with the team, with the exception of …

Heavy fog was a factor in a two-vehicle accident that left a Mendon man dead Monday morning. State police said Thomas Bell, 60, died after the car he was driving was hit by another vehicle at the intersection of Nottawa and Prairie Corners roads in Mendon Township. Investigators were called to the intersection at 7:30 a.m. Bell was driving eastbound …