St Joseph County

Officials from Centreville Public Schools are staging the second of four community-forum sessions regarding a November millage proposal request. Tonight’s event starts at 7 p.m. at Centreville Elementary School, where Superintendent Rob Kuhlman will lead a Power Point presentation, and school board and committee members from “Our Kids First” will be on hand to field questions. The district is hoping …

A boa constrictor and an aquarium to house it were stolen during the breaking-and-entering of a business over the weekend in Sturgis. The back door of a business in the 1100 block of South Centerville Road was pried open between 9 p.m. Saturday and 7:45 a.m. Sunday, allowing access to the store. Sturgis Police said the Colombian Red-Tailed constrictor was …

The official attendance count for the 2013 St. Joseph County Grange Fair was 140,547 patrons. The numbers, released Monday by fair director Bill Johnson, were just a few hundred shy of the 2012 attendance figure. Johnson said weather played a role in attendance not only at the grandstand and its nightly entertainment, but the fair overall. He said Saturday’s ideal …

Three dirt bikes were stolen from a storage shed last month in Constantine Township. State police investigators were called Friday to the 11000 block of Riverside Drive, where the Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha motorcycles were stolen, likely between Aug. 6 and 27. An extended-cab Chevrolet pickup towing a black trailer was spotted in the area and is suspected of being …

The 163rd St. Joseph County Grange Fair is in the books, and organizers of the annual event said they expect attendance to be slightly down from 2012. Bill Younts, president of the fair board, said periods of rain during portions of three days of the seven-day fair may have kept prospective guests at bay. A shower Friday evening, he said, …

A 53-year-old Constantine man was arrested last week after he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle in Constantine Township. The man was arrested around 1:45 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Dickinson Road, where he was caught following a brief foot chase. The man had not only allegedly stolen the vehicle earlier in the night, …

Two Burr Oak Township residents were arrested and a third is being sought in connection with a methamphetamine case investigated by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. According to sheriff’s department officials, SCAN members on Friday executed a search warrant at a residence on Maple Lane after fielding a citizen’s tip. Investigators found meth production and stolen property, as …

The start of the 2013-14 school year marks the beginning of a new strategic plan for White Pigeon Community Schools. According to Superintendent Ron Drzewicki, the new strategic plan will be used to guide the district in decision-making as it makes improvements to the instructional program. Drzewicki likened the plan to a road map, as it will focus efforts on …

The village of Constantine is looking for participants to compete in its annual BBQ cook-off next weekend. Cash prizes of $150, $100 and $75 will be awarded to the top three contestants, as judged by a three-person panel. The cook-off takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28, with judging at 5 o’clock. Tasting by the public will be …

Four entrants into the White Pigeon High School Athletic Department 2013 Hall of Fame will be at the center of festivities next week. The four incoming members will be recognized prior to the start of next week’s homecoming varsity football game against Centreville. The following day, the members will be honored during a formal induction ceremony at the Klinger Lake …