News

The start date for the Centreville Police Department has been delayed indefinitely until a chief is hired. The agency was supposed to begin today after deciding to not renew its contract with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s office had provided police coverage for the municipality for more than 20 years, but village officials believe having a community …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has amended the name of an annual award to the “Three Rivers Lions Club Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year.” The name-change pays tribute to the memory of Bruce Snook, a long-standing advocate of service and the Citizen of the Year award to honor persons who serve their community. The award has been given …

A Sturgis resident has been awarded the honor of Citizen Corps Coordinator of the Year. Sturgis Police Deputy Chief David Ives said Jim Cook, a retired CAD instructor from Glen Oaks Community College, was selected from nominations across the state. He was presented a plaque during a recent meeting of the 5th District Homeland Security in Kalamazoo. Cook heads the …

A Sturgis-based business was awarded a 12-year tax abatement this week by members of the city commission. Midwest Plastics Engineering Inc. on Wednesday was granted the abatement for an investment in new equipment. The addition will help retain 40 jobs at the facility and create 10 new positions, company officials said. It is investing more than $190,000 in four injection-mold …

Officials plan to test about 300 students and staff at Kalamazoo Central High School after a male student was found to have tuberculosis. Testing will begin Monday. Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services official Linda Vail says the chances that others at the school contracted tuberculosis are “very, very slim.” Public schools Superintendent Michael Rice says staff members were told …

A half-dozen female students have been arrested following a fight at a Kalamazoo high school. Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Michael Rice says “six girls got into a fight and wouldn’t stop.” Loy Norrix High School has a police liaison officer. Rice says Kalamazoo city police also were needed to help break up the Thursday morning skirmish.  (AP)

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority was named one of three recipients statewide in a competition staged by the Michigan Main Street program. DDA Director Christy Trammell was notified Tuesday that the community was accepted into the Select Level of the program, which is overseen by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Trammell said the Michigan Main Street program is …

State Rep. Matt Lori has announced the St. Joseph County Grange Fair will receive a $20,000 state grant to put a new roof on the show arena at the fairgrounds. The county is participating in the County Fairs Capital Improvement Program, which provides Michigan’s county fairs with funds for proposed enhancements to fairgrounds across the state. Lori said considering nearly …

Jewelry and a .22-caliber handgun were reported stolen from a residence in Park Township earlier this week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called Tuesday to a residence in the 55000 block of Wilbur Road after the owner discovered the break-in around 4 p.m. Access was gained through forced entry.

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk and Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite have returned a federal prisoner to Kentucky. The two left early Tuesday with Nathan Lumbard, who was sentenced in St. Joseph County last week on charges stemming from the May 2009 arson of Welch’s Steak and Ribs in Sturgis. He has one year of federal prison time to serve before …