News

A fast moving disturbance will bring variable snow amounts to the area tonight, ranging from 2 to 4 inches over far southwest Lower Michigan to around an inch or less well inland. Overnight temperatures will drop well down into the 20s causing travel to become more hazardous, especially for the morning commute. Clearing skies will follow Wednesday.  (NWS)

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said starting next week, it will post available vaccine appointments on its webpage. Beginning Monday and every subsequent Monday, appointments will be posted at 9 a.m. Current demand for COVID-19 vaccination exceeds the amount of vaccine allocated to the tri-county area. Agency officials last week rolled out an online scheduler that allows citizens to …

A Sturgis man was the victim of an armed-robbery attempt last week in Colon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m. Friday in the area of M-86 and Fairfax Road. The 45-year-old victim told deputies he was flagged down by a subject in a Ford F-150 pickup with Illinois license plates. The vehicle was stationary alongside …

The Michigan Strategic Fund recently approved the $55 million “Michigan Small Business Survival Grant” program to meet the need of Michigan’s small businesses that have experienced a significant financial hardship due to the recent COVID-19 emergency orders. The application period opens at 9 a.m. today and runs through noon Friday. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to businesses …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging will offer group exercise classes at both its enrichment centers starting this week. COA director Pam Riley said sessions will begin Wednesday. Class size is limited, so registration is required. COA’s phone number is 279-8083. Masks are required at all times, and there will be floor markings and other signage to ensure social …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering complaint originating from an incident in Sturgis Township. Investigators were called to the 25000 block of U.S. 12, where a barn was entered illegally. The victim said the incident occurred between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. An air compressor and two Stihl chainsaws were reported stolen.

Two local high school football teams fell short over the weekend in their quest to make it to the state championship game. Playing at Tecumseh High School, Constantine lost a tough contest against Clinton. The Falcons came up short in their Division 6 game, 40-to-6. Meanwhile, in a Division 7 matchup in Fenton, Schoolcraft suffered a 36-to-21 defeat to New …

Relief is coming to Michigan businesses after a board last week approved $58.5 million in grants for economic losses due to the coronavirus pandemic that has strained the state’s economy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month signed into law a spending plan to help repair the economic impact from the coronavirus. It included an allocation to the Michigan Strategic Fund under the Michigan …

A small group of gun-toting demonstrators rallied Sunday outside of Michigan’s Capitol building near a sizable presence of law enforcement officers on high alert after this month’s deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol. About a dozen protesters openly carried guns, including some who promoted the anti-government “boogaloo” movement, a slang term adopted by the pro-gun extremist movement that is a reference to …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the National Guard, the state police continued to augment its presence at the Capitol and crews installed a 6-foot, chain-link fence around the 142-year-old building before expected protests ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. The Legislature on Friday also canceled session next week, citing law enforcement’s concerns about “credible threats regarding events” at the Capitol. Michigan …