After 22 years working in education, Sturgis High School Principal Ron Ehlers has announced he is retiring. His last day will be June 30. District officials said Ehlers has been a strong advocate for students. They hope to fill the position by July 1, as it was posted last week internally and externally. The selection process will include application screening, …

Jury-selection begins today in St. Joseph County Circuit Court for the murder trial of Zachary Patten. Patten is scheduled to stand trial for the July 2017 murder of Shane Richardson. According to authorities, Patten drove to a home in the 16000 block of Featherstone Road in Florence Township, where his ex-wife resided. Police said Richardson, along with his pregnant wife …

A thicket, a patch of tall grass and a quiet spot in your back yard – all places that fawns have been found. For the first few weeks of a white-tailed deer fawn’s life, its mother will hide it in secluded locations. This behavior helps reduce the potential of predators finding the fawn. While fawns may seem abandoned, they rarely …

Investigation into the shooting death of a 51-year-old woman in Fawn River Township is continuing, though few details are available from authorities. Pauline Randol was the victim. Her 9-year-old adopted son was allegedly responsible for the shooting, killing her after he fired a rifle at her. Court records show the boy was charged with one count of open murder and …

A 37-year-old man is in the St. Joseph County jail after a high-speed pursuit earlier this week. Matthew Gear was arrested after crashing a vehicle into the front porch of a home at 314 S. Elkhart St. in White Pigeon around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police from Goshen were responding to a call regarding a personal-protection violation. When they arrived, Gear …

A new employee will be joining the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. County commissioners agreed Tuesday to make an exception to their self-imposed hiring freeze and approve the request sought by Prosecutor John McDonough. In a memo to commissioners, McDonough indicated the need for an assistant prosecuting attorney is essential in order to perform day-to-day duties, which include handling criminal …

Two Sturgis-area residents were added to the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging board. By unanimous vote at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, the citizen-interest forms submitted by Lee Austermann and George Letts were approved.

Betty Jane Wallace, age 91, of Three Rivers, formerly of Centreville, died on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at her home, She was born November 7, 1927 in Coldwater, a daughter of George and Myrtle (Raymond) Carpenter. Betty attended school in Bronson, MI. On January 22, 1945 she married George Wallace in San Diego, CA. He preceded her in death February …

You won’t find many dogs like me! My name is “Echo” and I am a Catahoula mix, male.  I think I am about a year old.  I am friendly, I sit, I take treats gently and I act like I am housetrained.  I will need my neuter surgery.  Come visit me.  My docket number is 46041, at the St. Joseph …

Mendon Township voters will have a chance later this year to weigh in on an ordinance related to solar-panel developments. Township board members agreed Tuesday to put the issue on November’s ballot after they confirmed a citizen-led petition contesting the ordinance exceeded the minimum number of valid signatures. The petition was submitted last week and contained more than 300 signatures. …