News

The unseasonably warm weather in Michigan is giving mushroom hunters an early jump on morel season.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports at least one morel sighting has been reported in March, about two months before the usual peak season in the state. If mushroom hunters use the calendar to determine morel season this year they could miss out on the chance …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services said it will not be conducting a leaf and brush pick up this year. Based on that decision, DPS officials on Monday issued a news release, reminding residents that it is against city ordinance to place yard waste or debris in the street or the area between the street and the sidewalk. Residents …

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering announced Monday that she has filed her paperwork to run for election to the post for its four-year term starting in January. Ratering, a 52-year-old Park Township resident, was appointed to the position earlier this year, as she has stepped in for Phyllis Bainbridge. Bainbridge retired for health reasons, though her term doesn’t expire …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued an alert to residents in the area of Wilbur Road in Park Township. Earlier this month, a number of unlocked vehicles were entered and many items, including a GPS unit, cash and a cell phone accessory were stolen. In all cases where vehicles were entered, doors were left unlocked. The sheriff’s department …

Colon firefighters were called out to a house fire Monday afternoon on Willow Drive. One home was engulfed in flames, and strong winds sent flames to a neighboring home. Both houses sustained heavy damage. Firefighters were on scene for about 4 hours. The Colon Fire Department was assisted by Burr Oak, Leonidas, and Mendon. The Centreville Fire Department was dispatched …

A company that grinds wood into livestock bedding has lost its bid to move to a new location in northern Indiana after neighbors complained it shouldn’t be in a rural area.  The Elkhart County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday to deny the request from Martin Animal Bedding to build a couple miles outside Goshen. Company representative Barry Pharis told commissioners that …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has received a state grant to help promote traffic safety with the use of new and upgraded equipment. Sheriff Brad Balk said the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police recently awarded the grant as part of an Excellence in Traffic Safety award. A $3,000 grant from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety and Planning …

Fire crews from White Pigeon and Constantine responded Friday afternoon to Mottville Township, where an abandoned house was on fire. The residence, on Riverside Drive, was already partially collapsed. A cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but fire officials said embers from a nearby burning leaf pile could have triggered the blaze. The structure was completely destroyed.

The National Weather Service says a slow-moving storm that damaged more than 100 homes in a rural southeastern Michigan community when a tornado touched down included at least one other tornado that caused damage.  No  serious injuries were reported and crews are expected to survey the damage Friday following Thursday’s storms.  Meteorologist Steven Freitag says Friday that the tornado that …

Scientists say the gray wolves of Isle Royale National Park are dangerously close to extinction.  Biologists with Michigan Tech University say they counted only nine wolves on the Lake Superior island this winter, down from 16 a year ago.  It’s the lowest number since scientists began monitoring the park’s wolves and moose a half-century ago. Biologists Rolf Peterson and John …