News

Sturgis City Commission members voted this week to approve the city’s 2023 street rehabilitation project. The city received a single bid by the May 1 deadline, submitted by Northern Construction Services Corp. of Niles. Its bid was for about $720,000. The three segments in the project are South Orange Street from Wenzel to West South Street; South Nottawa Street from …

Pedal Across America has included a St. Joseph County community as a stop on its weeklong, cross-state bicycle tour this summer. Cyclists attempting the journey will arrive in Centreville June 19 and stay at the county fairgrounds. The tour starts June 17 in New Buffalo and continues to Niles before arriving in Centreville. The route will continue into Homer, Napoleon, …

St. Joseph County officials are considering an agreement with a neighboring county regarding year-round disposal of household hazardous waste. During Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Teresa Doehring said St. Joseph County is interested in working out a deal with Kalamazoo County, allowing St. Joseph County residents to dispose of household hazardous waste and recycle electronics at Kalamazoo County’s permanent …

Now that the recently charged suspect in the 1988 death of Cathy Swartz has died in jail by suicide, investigators fear questions in the case will never get answered. WOOD-TV has reported that Robert Waters, 53, died on Saturday at the Beaufort, South Carolina, County Detention Center just days before Michigan police were planning to pick him up. WOOD said …

Glen Oaks Community College is offering a program that will give incoming students a jump-start on college English and math. “Ready, Set, Go!” is a down-to-basics program being offered 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 31 through Aug. 3. College officials said the first three days will cover English, math, resources and support services. The fourth day will be a …

The Salvation Army of Kalamazoo County is issuing a final call-out for volunteers to help with an upcoming, annual event this weekend. The National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is Saturday and the agency is seeking assistance to help with collected items. Salvation Army officials will be at the Parchment Post Office on Saturday, then May …

White Pigeon Township Library has announced the return of its popular “Summertime Tunes” music series. Five performances are scheduled for June and July. The lineup: June 21, The Whistle Pigs, performers of crowd-pleasing music. June 28, RockDogs, whose genre centers on classic rock. July 5, Orquesta Ritmo, a band specializing in salsa music. July 12, country/western band Brenda Loomis Band. …

Sunday’s first Mendon Dust-Off event since 2019 was deemed a success by its organizers. Heidi Alexander, president of the Three Rivers Classic and Antique Restorers Club, which sponsored the Dust-Off, said about 400 vehicles took part in the day-long event. Considering wet weather to start the day, the show got off slowly but picked up steam as the morning unfolded, …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of a dirt bike from a location in Fawn River Township. The motorcycle was taken between 3 a.m. May 3 and 12:30 p.m. May 4 from the 28000 Block of Fawn River Road. Authorities said the dirt bike is a 2021 Honda CRF-450X.

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the department is taking part in a three-week enhanced enforcement centering on seatbelt usage. The annual “Click It or Ticket” enhanced enforcement will run May 15 through June 4 as part of a national seatbelt enforcement program. Bingaman said the campaign coincides with summer-travel season. Two-hundred and twenty-eight people not wearing a seatbelt …