Members of the Constantine Public Schools Board of Education have approved action to go to the polls later this year. In November, a school bond proposal drew nearly 2,900 voters and the measure failed by 11 votes. It would have netted the district more than $1.6 million through the board’s earlier action of refinancing school bonds. The excess funds could …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved two independent-contractor agreements. CSZ Services of St. Johns was tapped to provide commercial and industrial appraisals for the county’s Land Resource Centre and Equalization. The work is to be performed for appraisals as determined appropriate for inclusion in the county’s 2017 equalization study by the equalization director of the St. …

Lorraine N. Rench of Union City died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 in Coldwater just nine days before her 94th birthday. She was born in Mendon on March 2, 1923 the daughter of Ervin and Sarah Katherine (Moore) Hoover. She was married to Homer J. Rench on Nov. 9, 1940 in Bryan, Ohio. She had been employed at Rich Manufacturing in …

Here I am at Animal Control. I lost my way and they found me. The staff call me Jake. I am a male, about one year old, and I get along with other dogs. I feel so energetic and loving. I would like to make friends with someone and go home with them. My docket number is BIS17-000035, at the …

A proposed plan to address some costly projects at three county parks was endorsed by a Park Township resident at Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Holly Stephenson stated during citizen comments that the county’s recent discussion about potential improvements at Covered Bridge Farm and Plumb Lake parks, and Cade Lake Park and Campground would be worth the …

A Constantine man was charged with violating terms of concealed-carry laws last weekend. Three Rivers Police stopped a pickup around 3 a.m. Sunday on Constantine Street at Wolf Street after the vehicle was observed being driven in an erratic manner. It was determined the 39-year-old driver was intoxicated and in possession of a loaded pistol. He was charged with operating …

The Sturgis Township Planning Commission is recommending township trustees adopt specific procedures for enforcement of property maintenance standards that hold owners responsible, while giving latitude to compliance timelines. The issue has been before township officials for several months as they wrestled with concerns about how future code officers will enforce the standards. Several planning commissioners said they did not want …

Michele Renee Root, age 54, died on Monday, February 20, 2017. In accordance with family wishes cremation will be conducted and  memorial services will be held in April of 2017. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Marlin Keith Lane, age 68, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Marlin was born March 3, 1948, in Coldwater, a son of the late Robert and Hilda (Hoard) Lane. He had lived most of his life in St. Joseph County, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1967. He …

Michigan State Police are praising two motorists for stopping to help a trooper who was being attacked along a roadway. State Police Lt. Melinda Logan says the motorists rescued Trooper Garry Guild from two men who were attacking him Monday along U.S. 31 in southern Berrien County near the Indiana border. Logan says Guild was then able to gain control …