A team of volunteers from Three Rivers spent Saturday morning lending a hand at St. Joseph County Animal Control. Sheriff’s Department Captain T.J. Baker said the workers were from Beacon Health and sent a team of eight volunteers, who put in about four hours of work. Baker said the group painted an assortment of structures and tidied up animal control’s …

A Grand Rapids man who had been reported missing has been found deceased in Cass County. Sheriff Richard Behnke said a team of more than 50 volunteers found the body of 76-year-old Johnny Bolden. It was located Sunday in a heavily wooded area, about a mile from where his car was found in Pokagon Township. Bolden had been reported missing …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman filed paperwork last week, making official his candidacy for sheriff. Voters will choose from a growing field of contenders in the August 2024 primary election to succeed Mark Lillywhite, who is not seeking re-election. Bingaman joins Dennis Allen, Chad Spence and his cousin, Joe Bingaman, as candidates for the role. Bingaman said he expects …

White Pigeon Township Library has a slate of events and activities on tap in coming weeks. First, its summer reading program starts Monday. Then, on June 14, the Potawatomi Zoo – including Larry the Sloth – will pay a visit June 14. Finally, the popular “Summertime Tunes” 2023 program kick-off starts at 6 o’clock June 21, featuring The Whistle Pigs, …

Two champions for area youth have been named Sturgis 2023 citizens of the year. The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that Debby Mathis and Ken Mills were selected from a pool of candidates. Mathis, a longtime Sturgis resident, served 24 years at Sturgis Public Schools as an elementary school counselor. Outside of education, Mathis was a charter member …

Here’s a reminder that the St. Joseph County Conservation District is staging the first of its four river cleanup events next week. Volunteers are still being sought for Monday’s cleanup of the St. Joseph River in Leonidas Township. Work will start at 9:30 a.m. from Farrand Road to Jacksonburg Road. Volunteers should show up by 9:15. Grace said water, snacks …

Von Metzger was appointed Monday to the Sturgis Township supervisor seat, succeeding longtime leader George Morse. Metzger was appointed the head of the five-member board by a vote of the board. He will fill out the term through the end of 2024. Should he decide to run in his own right, Metzger would appear on the primary ballot in August …

A Jones woman and her passenger suffered minor injuries after the car they were in crashed into a building last week in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday to the intersection of U.S. 12 and Union Road in response to a single-vehicle crash. Behnke said 56-year-old Lori Walsh was driving …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident last week in Park Township. Investigators said the incident occurred between Friday and Monday at a business in the 52000 block of U.S. 131. Deputies said an undisclosed amount of copper wire was stolen.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for a number of surrounding counties. The Red Flag Warning means weather and vegetation conditions are favorable for grass, wild and structure fires to catch and spread rapidly. Above-normal dry conditions warrant the precaution, which has been declared for Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Calhoun, Allegan, Barry and several other Lower Peninsula …