Government

St. Joseph County deputies are investigating the theft of two Kayaks from Lennon Road in Nottawa Township. One is a 10-foot Sundolphin, lime green in color. The second was a 10 1/2-foot Perception Sport, faded green in color. Both are sit-in models. The incident was reported June 26 and took place at a residence in the 60000 block of Lennon …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Executive Director Lynn Coursey announced last week her resignation from the Three Rivers-based agency. Coursey had served in the capacity for 13 years. She said she is pursuing other opportunities, and added she is proud of the COA’s current visibility as a result of its efforts the past 13 years.

Two 14-year-olds have been injured after the golf cart they were in was struck by a pickup truck in southwestern Michigan. Cass County sheriff’s officials say that the collision occurred about 6:25 p.m. Saturday when a girl operating the golf cart failed to yield the right of way to the pickup in Porter Township. The teens in the cart were …

Six west Michigan teens are jailed in connection with the theft of a pair of $2,000 designer sunglasses outside a Battle Creek gas station. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that a 22-year-old man told police he was in a parking lot when his Cartier sunglasses were taken at gunpoint. The man called 911 as he drove after the group when …

The city of Sturgis has identified areas targeted for its road and sidewalk improvements this summer. The locations are: Cottage Street, from South Nottawa to South Lakeview; Walker Street, from South Fourth to South Lakeview; Forest Avenue, from South Centerville to Prairie; White Street, from West South to the south driveway access to the Meijer store; Congress Street, from South …

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 …