A proposed ordinance related to solar-energy systems in Mendon Township was modified by its planning commission Tuesday. The five-member panel agreed to change the distance of a setback from 125 to 50 feet in select areas where a solar-panel development is proposed. The original distance was 125 feet all the way around the proposed White Pine Solar project, slated for …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said municipal officials recently received a notice indicating the village is not in compliance with the Three Rivers Sewer-Use Ordinance. Cited violations include failure by the village to adopt an ordinance that complies with the city’s sewer-use ordinance, and lack of an inter-jurisdictional agreement between the municipalities with regard to sewer treatment. Three Rivers also …

Centreville Village Council has filled the seventh of its seven seats with a longtime resident. Matt Swanwick was appointed to the panel during the council’s Monday meeting. He was one of three candidates to apply for the seat left unfilled after last month’s election. Trustee Gary McClain dissented on the motion to appoint Swanwick, as McClain had nominated previous council …

An unprecedented run ended Tuesday, as St. Joseph County commissioner John Dobberteen attended his last meeting as an elected member of the board. His 20-year tenure on the county board is believed to be the longest in the county’s history. It will officially end Dec. 31, but Tuesday was the board’s final meeting of 2018. A 59-year-old Sturgis resident, Dobberteen …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the circumstances behind a fire believed to have been deliberately set last weekend in White Pigeon Township. Fire officials were called at 5:15 a.m. Saturday to an unoccupied residence in the 16000 block of Fawn River Road. It was determined that the fire was started intentionally. The fire was limited to a front porch, as crews …

Michigan marked the beginning of legal, recreational marijuana last week and is the first state in the Midwest to allow marijuana for more than medical purposes. Retail shops are still months away and must involve state regulators, but the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office has announced it is ready to dismiss possession cases. Residents 21 years of age and older …

A Cass County teenager was injured after she was involved in a one-vehicle accident earlier this week in Violinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded shortly before 12:30 p.m. to an area in the vicinity of Church Street and Goff Lake, where the 16-year-old girl drove off the roadway. She was traveling west on Church Street when the incident …

Members of White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education last week approved three administrative contracts for the current academic year. Receiving a one-and-a-half-percent raise were associate superintendent Carrie Erlandson, assistant principal/athletic director Eric Kistler and Central Elementary principal Shelly McBride. In other action, Erlandson reported on a legislative bill seeking to move toward letter grades for schools. She expressed concern …

The CTE medical occupations class, based at Centreville High School, had 20 of its 24 students qualify for the state competition after they took part in the Health Occupations Students of America-Future Health Professionals regional competition Dec. 7. HOSA is one of many career technical student organizations that provides opportunities for CTE students to compete against each other at regional, …

Two people were arrested last week following a break-in at a residence in the 12000 block of Riverside Drive in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the owner, who lives at a different address, drove past the unoccupied home around 4 p.m. Friday. He noticed a porch light had been turned off and when he went inside to investigate, he heard …