St Joseph County

Members of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have begun their search for the district’s next superintendent. School officials last month held a planning meeting to begin the process of replacing Tom Langdon, who plans to retire in March. Among those in attendance were Gary Rider, regional president of Michigan Leadership Institute, and Doug Knobloch, senior associate and consultant …

One area high school football team remains alive in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s playoffs. Mendon High School will try to advance to the Division 8 “Final Four” bracket Saturday, when it squares off in a matinee contest against Climax-Scotts. The Hornets are 11-0 and will face for perhaps the final time a 9-2 Climax-Scotts squad. The showdown takes …

Follow-up inspections to a White Pigeon Township trailer park have found the owner did little to bring code violations into compliance since a checkup in August. Township supervisor Don Gloy said an update on the situation was provided at Tuesday’s monthly board of trustees meeting. Gloy said after the Aug. 14 compliance check conducted by the township’s code-enforcement officer Doug …

A motorist responsible for the death of a 46-year-old Sturgis man in a traffic crash earlier this year has been sentenced to prison. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced Paul Michael Middling, 36, of Three Rivers to 20-to-60 years in prison. Middling was driving when his car struck a van driven by Miguel Medina May 4 near …

The Sturgis city commission recently voted to improve “yield to pedestrian” signage at three locations: Monroe Street in front of the post office, Pleasant and North streets, and Jefferson Street. Other intersections have signals. City manager Mike Hughes said it makes sense to consider signage. City engineer Barry Cox said any signage would have to go through Michigan Department of Transportation …

Members of the Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees recently approved an audit of the college. The audit, presented by Lisa VanDeWeert of Rehman Group, featured a series of reports, including federal awards that were expended by the college for fiscal year 2017 and the communication for those charged with governance. In the end, VanDeWeert issued an unmodified or …

A chainsaw and a Honda portable generator were reported stolen last week from a barn in Nottawa Township. State police troopers were called Saturday to the 50000 block of Rambadt Road, where someone entered a barn between Oct. 30 and Saturday morning through an unlocked door. Investigators said the suspect loaded both items into a small, pull-behind wagon and left …

A number of seasonal residences in the area of Long Lake in Colon Township were burglarized last month. Troopers from Michigan State Police said the incidents occurred between 4:15 p.m. Oct. 22 and 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25 in the 61000 block of Bass Lane. Investigators said suspects gained entry by using a prying instrument to open the front and rear …

A Cassopolis man died after he was struck by a train last week in Cass County. Cassopolis Police Department Chief Brian LaValle said officers were called shortly after 5 a.m. Friday to railroad tracks at East State and Wolfe streets for a report of a northeast-bound train that struck a pedestrian. Police located the 63-year-old pedestrian, identified as Garry Shouse, …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week said he will continue exploring options to lower car insurance rates for all Michigan drivers. Miller voted ‘yes’ on House Bill 5013, which would guarantee lower car insurance rates for all Michigan drivers – with the greatest savings going to seniors. The bill, however, did not pass in a vote late last week in …