County Information

A month after John Schwartz retired as coach of Mendon High School’s football team, his successor was named Monday night. Members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education approved 2006 graduate Bobby Kretschman as the Hornets’ head football coach. Kretschman played on the 2005 team that beat Crystal Falls Forest Park to claim the Division 8 title game, and …

A Cass County man faces up to 15 years in prison after he was taken into custody for fleeing the scene of a fatal accident. Edwardsburg Police Chief Tim Kozal said Brett Gilpin, 25, whose prior community of residence included Edwardsburg, was arrested Thursday by the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team. He was taken to the Cass County Jail on …

The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.7 percent January unemployment rate was higher than December’s 3.1 percent. January’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.7 percent less than the same month one …

A new Adult Protective Services Centralized Intake process was made official during a signing-in ceremony Friday in Centreville. Led by probate court judge David Tomlinson, the signing-in marks the culmination of a plan nearly six years in the making. The intake process ensures referrals are sent to the local office in a timely manner. Furthermore, updates to the 2016 St. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced office hours for an informal gathering later this month in Cass County. Miller invites residents to join him 8 to 9 a.m. March 30 at the Broadway Café, 158 S.  Broadway St., in Cassopolis. Miller said connecting face-to-face with people in communities throughout the district is one of the most rewarding aspects of being …

Marge Caid, band director at Constantine High School, recently received a $2,500 grant from Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. A former band student, Sheryl Miller applied for the grant, which gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a rural public school district in their community to receive funds. In 2016, Monsanto Fund grants totaling $2.3 million were …

St. Joseph County’s rivers are in store for a major clearing, as commissioners this week approved a $15,000 request for removal of deadfall. Conservation district director Carolyn Grace said the funds are necessary to address a number of trees that fell over and into the river during the fall and winter months. Grace said various stretches of the county’s six …

The Three Rivers German Band will start rehearsals April 4 for the coming summer season. Rehearsals take place 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Light and Life Wesleyan Church, 15765 Hoffman Road, Three Rivers. The band plays up to nine concerts each summer and several new songs have been added to its repertoire for this year, including “The Happy Trombone …

A memorandum of understanding with the city of Three Rivers was approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The matter centers on shared maintenance of a proposed non-motorized pedestrian trail from South Health Parkway in Three Rivers to Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. Specifically, the agreement calls for each entity to address litter, weed control, …

A Delton man wanted on a warrant from Kalamazoo County faces additional charges after he attempted to flee from a Schoolcraft officer this week. Chief Bryan Campbell said a patrol sergeant conducted a traffic stop at 4 p.m. Tuesday on West VW Avenue, near 16th Street, after the driver was observed speeding in the village. During the course of the …