St. Joseph County United Way continues to accept food and monetary donations for its 2024 “Thanksgiving for All” event. The annual event provides a Thanksgiving meal for up to 500 families who otherwise might not have a Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy. Non-perishable foods can be dropped off at the United Way’s Centreville-based headquarters. In addition, collection boxes have been set …

Here’s a reminder that Fibre Converters of Constantine is offering a matching grant of up to $100,000 toward installation of new playground equipment at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Director Jaymes MacDonald said total cost of the project is $320,000. The county has already received a $77,000 grant and plans to provide in-kind …

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Cupp has agreed to a two-year contract renewal. The matter was confirmed during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Cupp, a 50-year-old Mendon Township resident, is completing her seventh year as the highest-ranking, non-elected employee in county government. She said she appreciates the confidence the seven-member board has in her and her ability …

Kalamazoo Diocese Bishop Edward M. Lohse, a number of St. Edward’s Catholic Church dignitaries and more than 60 people gathered Monday for the blessing of a new section of cemetery in Mendon. The area is south of the church’s current cemetery and large enough to accommodate 770 graves, church officials said. The land was purchased by a parishioner’s family and …

A number of appointments and re-appointments were made during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The seven-member board appointed Thomas Sikorski to the newly created Materials Management Planning Committee, Elena Meadows to the St. Joseph County Planning Commission, Raul Morales to the Pivotal Board (formerly Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County), and Joe …

A Branch County man was injured last week after a propane tank exploded at his residence. Sherwood Fire Department personnel were called just before 7 a.m. Friday to a home on Blossom Road, west of Ralston Road, in response to a man suffering burns on his hands, face and head. The 70-year-old victim told authorities he was attempting to light …

Shipshewana’s holiday tradition, Lights of Joy, is returning this year with more lights than ever before, making it one of the biggest drive-through light experiences in the region. More than two million LED lights will illuminate a nearly two-mile route filled with holiday scenes, traditional Christmas stories, lighted arches and animated displays. The 2024 event begins Friday and runs through Dec. …

A Three Rivers Community Schools bus was involved in what district officials called a minor incident last week. The crash occurred Friday morning. According to the district’s social media, no one was hurt and the school arranged for another bus to get its passengers to school while notifying families of students involved. The district conveyed its thanks to everyone who …

Charges are being sought for a father whose 3-year-old died in August after being left in a car at a Vicksburg supermarket. Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday it is seeking charges of child abuse by leaving a child in a vehicle resulting in death. The child died Aug. 13 in a car parked at the Family Fare grocery store …

A St. Joseph County teenager has been awarded a $2,000 pre-college scholarship through Michigan State University. St. Joseph County 4-H officials said eighth-grade student Bella Webb is the recipient. Students in eighth to eleventh grades for 2024-25 who attended an MSU summer pre-college program in the summer of 2024 were eligible to apply for the award. Webb participated in 4-H …