News

A number of local entities, including the villages of Burr Oak, Centreville and Constantine, featured uncontested races. In Colon, six trustee candidates vied for three seats to Colon Village Council. Winners were Jodi Gross, Dillon Baker and Marvel Delp. They were challenged by David Senkewitz, Donald D’Water and Thomas Whitford. Gross and Delp are incumbents. In Three Rivers, Lucas Allen …

A trio of candidates ran for one partial-term membership to the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education. The three, Jack Coleman, Nichole Cover and Anne Riopel, were write-in candidates and the winner had not been determined as of late Tuesday night. The term expires at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, five people ran for four seats to Centreville Public …

Republican Rick Shaffer will return to serve two years as a member of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. In the only contested race to the seven-member board, Shaffer fended off Democrat Erin Schultes for the newly created Precinct 1, which comprises Lockport and Florence townships, and the city of Three Rivers.

A Sturgis felon will spend at least five years in prison for leading authorities on a high-speed chase that included a stretch of roadway in downtown Sturgis. Dylan Brand, 27, was sentenced last week by St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman to a period of five up to 17 years. Brand turned down a plea bargain for a five-year …

In light of the resignation of Kenneth Linn, Fabius Township Board members last week appointed Dan Wilkins to serve as its new supervisor. Wilkins has served as a trustee for eight years and is the vice chair of the township planning commission. Wilkins’ appointment was made during a special meeting Friday, a meeting called to accept the resignation of Linn. …

September’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent from August. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.2 percent in August to 4.1 percent in September. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from August to September. Its …

A 6-month-old child died this week in a two-vehicle crash involving an alleged drunken driver in Mendon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called around 7 a.m. Tuesday to the intersection of M-60 and Angevine Road. Investigators said 30-year-old Samantha Adams, of Mendon, was driving a westbound vehicle on M-60 but was stopped waiting for oncoming traffic to clear …

State police officials are investigating a larceny incident that took place this week in Branch County’s Algansee Township. Troopers responded to a location in the 500 block of South Ray Quincy Road. The victim told authorities the incident occurred between Sunday and Wednesday. Items taken include an industrial-sized air conditioner.

Tickets for a 50/50 cash raffle sponsored by the St. Joseph County United Way are now available. Cost is $5 per ticket or five for $20. Tickets are available from Sturgis City Hall and the United Way office in Centreville. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Sturgis City Commission’s Dec. 14 meeting.

Owners of a condemned building in downtown White Pigeon have been given a chance to try bringing the landmark up to safety codes. A specially assembled, seven-member panel called the Village of White Pigeon Construction Board of Appeals agreed Tuesday to give Union Hall Block Building Inc. six months to make safety-related improvements before authorization for further restoration is issued. …