News

St. Joseph County United Way is joining #Giving Tuesday  to inspire people to improve their communities by creating a better world. Next week, #Giving Tuesday will leverage social media to create a national movement dedicated to giving, just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been positioned to be synonymous with holiday shopping, according to Kelly Hostetler, St. Joseph County …

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education is looking for a new member, as president Tom Robertson announced his resignation this week. Robertson on Monday told board members he is accepting a new job as juvenile court director, and the position has the potential to put him in a conflict of interest as a school board member. A successor to …

A Fort Wayne funeral home is turning to the Internet to allow people who can’t attend funeral services to join in from afar. D.O. McComb & Sons is offering videoconferencing of visitations and memorial services using Skype. The videoconferencing software will be used Friday so a relative in Australia can participation in a visitation being held in Fort Wayne. Co-owner …

A World War Two-era steam engine is back on track in central Michigan. The Argus-Press says a crowd cheered Wednesday night as the Pere Marquette 1225 steam locomotive’s whistle sounded to announce its arrival at the train yard in Owosso. The 200-ton steam engine was built in 1941 and retired 16 years later. It was donated to Michigan State University …

County sheriff’s deputies investigated a crash yesterday afternoon on Fawn River Road in Sturgis Township, when a car rear-ended a horse and buggy. The car was driven by 28-year-old Nicholas Conner of Sturgis. The driver of the buggy was Lavon Knepp, age 30, of Shipshewana. All three occupants of the buggy were ejected. A buggy passenger, 30-year-old Ester Knepp, sustained …

St. Joseph County District Judge Jeff Middleton has issued a statement regarding the anniversary of a grim case in Three Rivers. Middleton said Dec. 2 marks the 25-year anniversary of the homicide of Cathy Swartz. The case remains unsolved. Middleton recounted that Swartz was brutally murdered in her apartment at the Riverside Townhouses while her young daughter was in the …

Officials from Enbridge, the company installing a pipeline across the southern end of the state, said they plan to complete pressure testing a portion of the new line within the next week. A 33-mile portion of the pipeline, from Mendon west to Niles, has been subject to pressure testing to ensure the integrity of the infrastructure. Eventually, the pipeline will …

St. Joseph County animal control director Tom Miller said the department saw a revenue increase from 2011 to 2012. In addition, Miller said fewer dogs were euthanized in 2012 compared to 2011. Miller addressed the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioner Tuesday, presenting to the five-member panel his annual report. The department euthanized 111 dogs last year, 77 fewer than …

A Florence Township official will have to look for an alternative source of financial help to address a crumbling roadway in his jurisdiction, as he was turned down for assistance by county officials Tuesday. For the second time in two months, Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor asked the commission for consideration to help replace Constantine Road from Dickinson north to …

Officials from the St. Joseph County Conservation Club have announced its Sherman Township headquarters will be a drop-off site for a Michigan United Conservation Club program through deer season. The club is participating in “Defend the Hunt,” a program that allows hunters to donate deer hides that will be processed and sold, with proceeds going to defend hunting rights in …