News

The St. Joseph County Sheriff Department investigated a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this month in Colon Township. According to a department media release, a residence and pole barn in the 29000 block of Spring Creek Road were burglarized. The break-in occurred between 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 1 p.m. Dec. 20. The victim told police numerous power tools were taken.

A committee of members from the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club is expected to decide whether to sell or keep a portion of a large piece of land it recently purchased. Jeff Brazo, club president, said the club acquired a 120-acre piece of land that includes a 40-acre parcel it had long sought. The committee will decide what …

The organizer of the fourth White Pigeon snowman-building event wishes to remind the public that judging is underway. With weather conditions conducive to well-packing snow, the event is in its second week, according to event coordinator Shireen Cline. Though she would prefer to see snowmen lined along the U.S. 12 corridor in White Pigeon and Mottville townships, Cline said she …

Sturgis Police attempted to stop a black Jeep in the 400 block of North Lakeview late Sunday morning for a driver’s license violation. The driver of the Jeep refused to stop and police pursued the vehicle to the area of Glen Oaks Community College on Shimmel Road. There, the driver of the Jeep drove off of the roadway to the …

The Cook Nuclear Power Plant in southwest lower Michigan is set for its annual inspection by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission early next year. According to a letter from the NRC to the plant, the inspection is scheduled for the week of March 17. Indiana Michigan Power has until March 10 to send in the written examinations and operating tests to …

A Sturgis Middle School math teacher has been named the winner of the 2013 John E. Oster Award. Cynthia Sprowl, a district employee of more than 30 years, was announced as the recipient during a recent luncheon sponsored by the Sturgis Rotary Club. The award is presented on behalf of the John Oster Memorial Fund, established in 1981 by Jo …

Sturgis city manager Mike Hughes said the municipality has been rated a “Five-Star Community” for the second consecutive year for its positive entrepreneurial climate. In addition to receiving the five-star designation, which is the highest ranking awarded, the city also received recognition as a 2013 “Best Practice Community.” The city is one of only eight communities in the state to …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has identified two bridges in St. Joseph County that will be replaced in the coming year. Spans over the Rocky River on Floating Bridge Road and Pulver Road, both in Flowerfield Township, will be dismantled and replaced in 2014. The tasks were made official when members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board recently …

Eric Jones, Mark Heydlauff and Tommy Hamilton were recently appointed to join the Sturgis Hospital Board of Directors and Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Jones joined the board Oct. 9 and will serve until May 2014. Since 1991, he has been president and owner of Michiana Corrugated Products Company. He is presently a member and vice-president of the Sturgis Hospital …

Members of the Fabius and Park townships fire boards have agreed to fund a second-shift staff member. The boards agreed earlier this month to man its station from 3 to 11 p.m. in hopes of reducing response times. The cost is expected to be shy of $40,000, but officials from both townships noted several money-saving steps undertaken by the fire …