A Vicksburg High School creative-writing teacher has been honored as an “Excellence in Education” award winner. The weekly acknowledgment is presented by Michigan State Lottery. For his recognition, David Smith received $2,000. He now becomes eligible for a $10,000 cash prize as the potential Educator of the Year recipient, an honor bestowed at the end of the academic year. Lottery …

I tried to help the staff here by licking peanut butter off the plate, but the picture just didn’t work out – – so I just posed handsomely.  My name is “Sonic.” I am a male, about a year and a half old.  I am house trained and I get along with kids and some dogs.  I know “sit” and …

County and local officials Wednesday morning canvassed St. Joseph County’s hardest-hit areas – Mendon, Nottawa, Colon and Leonidas townships – to gauge the degree of damage caused by what has now been confirmed as two tornadoes that touched down late Tuesday afternoon in the northeast quadrant of the county. St. Joseph County Emergency Management Director Erin Goff said in her …

Glen Oaks Community College has chosen its new president to succeed the retiring David Devier. College officials last week announced Bryan Newton was selected from a field of three finalists to replace Devier, who plans to step down June 30. Newton has more than two decades of service in community college administration, with an extensive background in enrollment management, student …

A Three Rivers man was injured in a personal-injury crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were dispatched shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday to an area near the intersection of U.S. 12 and Robbins Lake Road. Investigators said 36-year-old Joshua Leszczewski was negotiating a curve when his vehicle crossed the center line. His …

A man riding a red bicycle is considered a suspect related to the larceny of items from motor vehicles last week in Sturgis Township. Michigan State Police troopers said several items were taken between 2:25 a.m. and shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday in the 26000 block of U.S. 12. Security surveillance confirmed a person on a bicycle in the vicinity …

Centreville Fire Chief Dave Miracle has determined wind was a factor in the cause of a fire last weekend at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. Miracle said he returned to the fairgrounds Monday to further investigate the situation. He determined the source of the blaze centered on a powerline coming from a nearby pole to the weather head on Building …

Three people from Three Rivers have been charged for allegedly having labor trafficked a now-33-year-old woman brought to the United States from India under the auspices of marriage, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday. Ikbahl Singh Machhal, age 40, Kartar Chand, 67, and Shila Devi, 66, were each charged with one count of human trafficking – forced labor, and …

A group of St. Joseph County women has put together a local observance centering on the National Day of Prayer. The local observance starts at noon Thursday outside the county courthouse and is scheduled to last about an hour. Vicki Allen, one of a core group of four local residents playing a hand in the event, said the fourth-annual prayer …

St. Joseph County deputies are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who has or attempted to break-in to residences in Mendon village limits. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the agency fielded a call around 9 p.m. Sunday from the victim of a home invasion. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Fletcher Street. Authorities were told the …