News

The St. Joseph County Area Marine Corps League has a permanent meeting place and time. Following the group’s first meeting as its own chapter last weekend, members agreed to meet at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the FOP Hall, east of Centreville on M-86. Members had staged both an informational meeting and Saturday’s inaugural meeting at …

Victor Fitz announced Monday he will seek a third term as Cass County prosecutor. The 54-year-old Fitz was previously elected as prosecutor in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Fitz was originally appointed to the position by Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge in May 2003. A veteran law enforcement official, Fitz has served in the field of prosecution since 1983. He …

State Police have found the body of an elderly woman, who had been missing since Monday. Authorities searched all day Monday for 84-year-old Joanne Holden in an area near her home, at the intersection of Dutch Settlement and Day Roads. Her body was spotted from the air Tuesday morning by a State Police helicopter, about ½ mile southeast of her …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough announced last week he will be seeking re-election to another four-year term in November. The 32-year-old McDonough is in the fourth year of his initial four-year term after upsetting incumbent Doug Fisher in 2008. McDonough said representing the citizens of St. Joseph County has been an honor and he indicated he hopes to continue …

A millage renewal to support the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is expected to appear on a countywide ballot later this year. The amount of the renewal, however, is being debated by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During Friday’s executive committee meeting, which drew all seven commissioners, discussion stemmed from the three-quarters of a mill expiring this …

The first of what could well be a number of trailway master plan meetings in Sturgis took place last week. About 50 people attended the session, which centered on ideas and potential routes, corridors and connections for non-motorized traffic. Participants noted existing roadways – including Congress and West streets in Sturgis – along with abandoned railroad rights-of-way could be utilized …

A Constantine man was seriously injured in a 1-car crash Saturday evening on Blue School Road in Mottville Township. 21-year-old Kevin Griffin was ejected from the vehicle after it left the road and struck two trees. He was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital for treatment.

After just two years celebrating Dam Days, the city of Sturgis is changing the name and focus of its annual community celebration. Municipal officials were notified this week that the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce is going to call the 2012 festival Sturgis Fest. Cathi Abbs, chamber director, said “Where the Good Times Roll,” is the theme of the inaugural …

Tuition for St. Joseph County students attending Glen Oaks Community College will increase $5 per credit hour starting in the fall. Approved by the school’s board of trustees, the rate hike will bump the college’s tuition rate to $89 per credit hour. Meanwhile, students in the college’s service area will pay $136 a credit hour, with an additional $6 per …

The passenger in a vehicle stopped Tuesday in Burr Oak Township was charged with a methamphetamine-related offense. The unnamed 43-year-old woman, a Burr Oak resident, was charged with manufacturing meth and was wanted for probation violation on a previous meth-related charge, according to Michigan State Police. A search of the vehicle revealed a one-pot meth lab and other meth components …