County Information

Trine University has named Regina Schinker director of its education center in Centreville. Schinker previously worked at Trine as an adjunct faculty member. She also had served in several capacities, including most recently as teaching and learning coordinator at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. During her time as an adjunct instructor for Trine, Schinker said she has been impressed with …

A potential medical-marijuana facility drew a crowd to this week’s Centreville Village Council meeting. Opponents of the proposal said their concerns include the effects marijuana has on students; the village’s ability to handle zoning, fees and legal ramifications; that marijuana fails criteria for acceptable medical use in the U. S.; and that it is not the type of facility needed …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission agreed this week that it will offer an even match for work on local roads. Managing director Chris Minger said the road commission has allocated $500,000 toward reconstruction and rehabilitation of local roads. In December, the agency will ask townships for submission of potential road repair projects, he said. When submissions are received, the …

Two Cass County residents were involved in an accident Wednesday morning in Pokagon Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said 55-year-old Dowagiac resident Donald Fazi was driving north on M-51 when his vehicle crashed into the back of a car driven by Elizabeth Ecker, 28, of Niles. Ecker had stopped her car to turn left onto Indian Lake Road, authorities …

Glen Oaks President David Devier has recognized two individuals with long-time ties to the college during the 2017 annual Glen Oaks Community College Foundation gala. He named the Raymond H. Jr. & Gretchen M. Dresser Business Development Center in honor of the Sturgis couple for their dedication to the college. Next, the campus student services wing was named the Philip …

St. Joseph County Road Commission Manager Chris Minger said his crews are ready for winter, and they might get their first test of the season this weekend. With a new storage shelter holding 3,000 tons of a salt-sand mix, the original barn loaded with a 1,200-ton combination and another 18,000 tons of sand stored outdoors at the north end of …

Gateway Village of Sturgis was among eight recipients recognized at the Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards for successful efforts to reduce energy waste. The winners were announced by Gov. Rick Snyder and honored at a ceremony in Detroit last month. Gateway Village was developed by Portage-based Hollander Development Corporation and awarded for its efforts to provide quality, energy-efficient housing options for …

Students and staff at White Pigeon High School recently presented the local Salvation Army with a check to go toward hurricane relief. The school during homecoming week staged a “penny pinch” competition between classes, according to superintendent Jon Keyer. The effort raised $2,000. Student council president Lizzy Anderson said it wanted to do a service project as a way to give …

A 53-year-old Elkhart man died over the weekend after he was struck by a car in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called Sunday to M-51, near Pokagon Highway, in response to a subject in the roadway. Moments later, the sheriff’s department was advised that the man had been hit by a vehicle. The victim, Howard …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded Monday morning to a single-vehicle fatal crash in Penn Township. Deputies responded at 10:44 a.m. to Decatur Road, near Shurte Street, where a vehicle driven by 34 year-old Russell Jett, Jr. of Kalamazoo had struck a tree. Investigators said the Jett’s vehicle traveled across both lanes of traffic and struck a tree on the opposite …