County Information

Mendon Community Schools has been named the recipient of a grant of almost $10,000, which will help the district purchase iPads for classroom use. The Monsanto Fund, which recently awarded Riverside Health Clinic with a $10,000 grant, will provide a ceremonial check in the amount of $9,975 to Mendon school officials today during a media event at Mendon Elementary School. …

The St. Joseph County United Way is asking for donations to be included in the 2013 Silent Auction at September’s St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Kelly Hostetler, executive director of the local United Way, said with more space gained as the result of a move to inside a barn, plenty of room is available for items to be displayed during …

A prison term in excess of seven years was issued to a corporate official with South Haven-based Village Market Food Centers. Christopher Pratt, who was charged with embezzlement, was sentenced this week in a Kalamazoo federal court after the 42-year-old Pratt admitted a gambling addiction and an extensive car collection were financed through the $6 million he stole. Village Market …

Smoke emitting from inside a garbage bag led to drug-related charges against a Colon Township man Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the day acted on a citizen’s tip regarding a suspicious bag of what appeared to be trash alongside Decker Road in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics squad was called to the scene …

Jamie Rydman was the winner of the gift bag from the “Sass in the City” promotion in downtown Three Rivers. Billed as a spectacular girls’ night out, the event was July 12. Contributors to the gift bag – which contained items with a value of more than $150 – were Love Your Mother, World Fare, Riviera Theatre, UniQ Jewelry, Parker …

An alumni football game between two former St. Joe Valley Conference powerhouses is set to take place this weekend. An alumni squad from Mendon will challenge an alumni squad from Schoolcraft at 7 p.m. Saturday in Schoolcraft. Proceeds from the event will benefit athletic departments at both schools.

The city of Sturgis has issued a reminder that its tobacco-use ordinance goes into effect Thursday. As a reminder, the use of tobacco products – including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chew – will be prohibited on city property and its recreational areas. An allowable use of tobacco products on city property, however, is inside a …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety will be looking for a new director, as Dave Northrop is stepping down next month. The 47-year-old Northrop was named dean of students at Eastwood Elementary School. The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education chose Northrop from a field of nine candidates for the newly created position, which replaces the job of assistant principal. …

A hit-and-run, property-damage incident is under investigation by the Michigan State Police. According to a department media release, a vehicle being driven east on Fawn River Road was struck by a vehicle heading north on Nottawa Street in Sturgis Township. The incident at the four-way stop occurred at 4:10 p.m. Thursday. Investigators said the offending vehicle was an SUV that …

Centreville’s former department of public works director was sentenced to two years of probation after his involvement in the theft of gasoline from the village DPW garage. District court officials said 50-year-old Randy Baker, a Colon resident, was sentenced earlier this month after he earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement of less than $200. The misdemeanor and subsequent …