News

Fabius Township Board members will be acting on a recommendation from its planning commission related to a proposed solar and battery storage project. Fabius Township Planning Commission met Tuesday to review a special-land-use application, aimed at building a commercial solar array and Battery Energy Storage System on agricultural land designated as a Solar Overlay District within the township, according to …

A food program, believed to be the first of its kind in Michigan, opened Wednesday at Centreville High School. Superintendent Chad Brady welcomed district officials, community stakeholders, representatives from Michigan Farm Bureau and media members to the kickoff of Centreville Public Schools Food Club. The in-school market is designed to get food, toiletries and other necessities into the hands of …

Plans are being finalized to develop a compost facility at Westside Landfill. Fabius Township officials said the proposed facility would cover a four-acre area in the central region of the landfill. Initial plans were presented and discussed at a recent Fabius Township Board meeting. The proposed compost facility would be operated by a third-party and begin accepting material in March. …

A former contract worker for Mendon Community Schools entered a no-contest plea Monday related to a case involving two Mendon High School students. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said 34-year-old Kaitlyn Sand, formerly of Three Rivers but most recently a Sturgis resident, entered the plea to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The proceeding took place as part …

A Marcellus teenager was hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. Sheriff Clint Roach said deputies were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. Monday to Marcellus Highway and Finch Road in response to a collision. Deputies said a vehicle driven by 17-year-old Landen Bishop, of Marcellus, was headed east on Marcellus Highway. Bishop lost control of …

A Flowerfield Township woman is expected to be named to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. During their monthly executive committee meeting Tuesday, St. Joseph County Board of Commission members agreed to offer the position to Rea Brown. She was one of six people interviewed for the post, which is being vacated by longtime board member and current chairman …

A Three Rivers man will be sentenced in January after a jury last week found him guilty of 10 felony counts. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said Caron Fuller, 34, was deemed guilty of every offense stemming from a March police pursuit and the subsequent discovery of drugs and illegal weapons. Fuller was arrested March 11, when deputies observed …

The co-founder of a Sturgis-based coffee shop is scheduled to stand trial for alleged criminal sexual conduct of a minor. Authorities said Jared Smith, 49, is charged with two counts of first-degree and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. Smith is the former CEO of Five Lakes Coffee, which originated in Sturgis in …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency officials have confirmed five cases of chickenpox in youth who live within the three-county jurisdiction. Chickenpox, a highly contagious disease, causes an itchy, blister-like rash, fatigue, headache and fever. The virus spreads from an infected person through airborne particles as well as direct contact. Symptoms typically appear 10 to 21 days after exposure, and individuals …

The engineering firm behind a major public-works project in Constantine was recognized for its role in the process. Fleis & VandenBrink was behind the village’s effort to re-start Constantine’s waste-water treatment plant. The project was honored as “Project of the Year” by Southwest Michigan American Public Works Association. The accolade was bestowed for projects between $5 million and $25 million. …