County Information

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 …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department made an arrest last weekend after responding to a report of a suspicious person in Fawn River Township. Sheriff’s deputies responded at 11 p.m. Sunday to the 28000 block of U.S. 12 to a report of a suspicious person. Upon investigation, deputies arrested a 32-year-old woman. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine and …

The St. Joseph County Commission On Aging gave the public its first opportunity to sit in on a meeting related to future plans of the former Three Rivers Inn. Staged Thursday at the West Broadway Street site, the meeting included Michael Flynn, vice president at Byce & Associates, an architectural and engineering firm, to present site and floor plans. He was joined by Greg Dedes, …

Members of the Centreville Village Council have rejected bids for the Dean Street lift station – a facility designed to move wastewater from lower to higher elevation. They also authorized rebidding. Tim Woodhams, of Civica Engineering, said with the time of year and competitive atmosphere, bids were higher than expected. Council members said $290,000 had been budgeted and quotes came …

Ben Fries of Constantine is the newest member of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School district board. He was recently elected to the chair vacated by Robert Trenary, who chose to end his 20-year stint on the board. Fries said his passion for education and commitment to the community was motivation for seeking the position. A school board member for …

Mendon High School’s varsity football team is one win away from playing for the Division 8 state title. The Hornets improved their season record to 12-and-0 with a 14-6 win Saturday over Climax-Scotts and claiming a regional title. Mendon’s next opponent is Ottawa Lake Whiteford, also 12-and-0 on the season. It rolled to a 60-20 win Saturday to set up …

Constantine Village Council members viewed a second, 11-page ordinance draft Monday authorizing commercial medical marijuana facilities in the village. The council reviewed licensing information provided by village Manager Mark Honeysett at the last four council meetings, and directed village attorney Howard Bush to work on a draft of the ordinance. The first draft was presented Oct. 16 and Bush attended …