Government

The cost for hot lunch in Sturgis Public Schools is going up. Business manager Ray Sterling said the district is required to raise lunch prices due to the Federal Paid Lunch Equity Program. The district next year plans to raise prices the minimum amount required, which is 5 cents per lunch. That makes the price at the high school, middle …

Sturgis Township’s contracted zoning administrator is recommending adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code. Randy Schmeling recently told the Sturgis Township Planning Commission that the rules would give township officials more tools to address structurally compromised homes and buildings. Ultimately, he said, the measure is geared more toward making a structure safe. Examples he referenced include structures open to animals, …

Constantine Village Council members recently discussed a request by residents Charlie and Beth Cauffman to keep six so-called urban chickens in their yard. Charlie Cauffman told the commission chickens help control the bug population and there is an additional benefit from the eggs the chickens produce. Village manager Mark Honeysett reminded the council he once had to send a letter …

A graduation party June 18 in the Sturgis area is suspected of being the source of foodborne illness that affected six people. According to Steve Andriaachi, environmental health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, a member of the family with food-service background catered the party. There has not yet been a laboratory report completed to determine what caused the …

The Constantine Fire Department last week took delivery of its newest equipment addition, a 2016 Rosenbauer pumper/tanker fire truck. The truck has a 3,000-gallon water capacity. It replaces a 1993 truck that had a 1,000-gallon tank. Cost of the new truck is $315,000. Its expense will be shared by the village of Constantine, Constantine Township and Florence Township. The truck …

Authorities say commercial lawn equipment, farm implements and construction equipment are being targeted by thieves in Michigan. State police Detective Sgt. Todd Petersen tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that dealerships, with large lots and sometime lax security, are frequent targets of theft in Three Rivers, Cass County, Coldwater and other areas along southern and southwestern Michigan. Petersen says such equipment is …

A motorcyclist from Mendon was injured after his bike was struck by a car at an intersection last week in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s officials said Mark Stephenson, 63, was riding on Shimmel Road around 10 p.m. Thursday, when a car driven by a 16-year-old boy from Troy failed to stop at the Featherstone Road intersection. Stephenson was transported to Borgess …

Dental clinics to serve Medicaid and uninsured patients are expected to open in Sturgis and Coldwater by the end of September after the recent approval of an inter-local contract. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency board OK’d a recommended agreement with the non-profit group “My Community Dental Centers.” Health officer Rebecca Burns said the clinic will fill a much-needed service in …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board approved two significant expenditures last week. During their monthly meeting Wednesday, commissioners OK’d a $1.2 million package that features the construction of an equipment barn and a plan to correct a roofline problem that creates an annual, springtime problem. The barn, projected to cost more than $825,000, will be put in …

A Mendon couple was injured over the weekend after their vehicle was struck by a car in Kalamazoo County. The incident occurred at 2:50 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of South Eighth Street and West S Avenue in Texas Township. Investigators said a 61-year-old Texas Township woman was driving east on West S Avenue when she disregarded a stop sign …