St Joseph County

A smaller-than-expected group of 14 volunteers took part in the fourth river cleanup of the season. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, Monday’s cleanup took place on a mile-and-a-half stretch of the Portage River in Park Township. The effort started at Parkville Road and concluded at North Fisher Lake Road. For the first time in the agency’s eight-season …

A 38-year-old Sturgis man was grazed by a gunshot last week at his residence. Sturgis police personnel were called at 12:43 a.m. Friday to the 300 block of South Clay Street in response to shots fired into a residence. The victim was grazed in his head and treated at the scene before he was transported to Sturgis Hospital. No details …

St. Joseph County is home to a state championship sports team. The Centreville Bulldogs claimed the school’s first-ever state title in softball Saturday by beating No. 2-ranked Coleman High School by a score of 5-to-2. Centreville advanced to the Division 4 title game by topping Unionville-Sebewaing, 4-to-0, Friday. Both games were played in East Lansing at Michigan State University. Centreville, …

From its opening-night parade Thursday to the event-ending soap box derby Sunday, the 2018 Three Rivers Water Festival will go down in the books as a success. Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christy Trammell said the 62nd annual community celebration got off to a strong start with a parade that was as well-attended as she can remember. …

A motion regarding medical marijuana facilities failed Wednesday on a tie vote by members of the Sturgis City Commission. Language of the ordinance they were considering would have allowed provisioning centers in manufacturing and commercial zoning areas that were not within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, public parks or residential areas either inside or outside of the city. A dozen audience members spoke …

Public comment on an application to be submitted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is being accepted through Friday. The public comment centers on the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, which provides funding to improve the health of mothers, infants and children, including children with health-care needs. Based on a needs assessment, the …

St. Joseph County sheriff’s deputies report that a kayak was stolen last week from a location in Lockport Township. The incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday in the 58000 block of Pond View Lane, near the St. Joseph River. The green kayak was stolen sometime the previous night, the victim told authorities.

Centreville High School’s softball team is two wins from a state title after the Bulldogs won their quarter-final contest Tuesday. Centreville topped Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 7-to-3 in Battle Creek. On tap for the Bulldogs is a Friday evening, Division 4 semi-final contest against Unionville-Sebewaing. The Patriots will enter the 5:30 p.m. contest with a 29-and-7 record, while Centreville has a …

Officials from the Three Rivers Police Department have released the name of the man involved in a situation that resulted in lockdown status at Hoppin Elementary School last week. The suspect is 30-year-old Kyle Longacre of Three Rivers. He was taken to the county jail and arraigned on charges of one count of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent …

Centreville Public Schools has announced its new elementary principal. During a special meeting Monday, the district’s board of education acted on the recommendation of superintendent Stephanie Lemmer and an interview committee, and made official the hiring of Mark VenderKlok. His employment takes effect July 1. Terms of his contract are being negotiated. VanderKlok has spent the past eight years with …