News

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Colon has more than 200 quilts destined for shipment by Lutheran World Relief. The congregation yesterday celebrated the completion of the quilts at the annual dedication service. A group of devoted quilters gather Tuesdays for the project. Quilts from St. Paul’s have been used in hospitals in India; refugee camps in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind the public that October is the optimal month to receive a flu shot. Kali Nichols, director of personal health and disease prevention, said an annual, seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. She said flu vaccination is recommended for anyone ages six months and up. Also, …

Constantine Village Council members have set a public hearing for input regarding Sunday marijuana sales and consumption lounges. The hearing will take place at 7 p.m. Monday. During its September meeting, the council heard a request from Dominic Iemma, founder of Prosper Cannabis Co., the largest cannabis provisioning center in southwest Michigan. Iemma’s request centered on Sunday sales of marijuana. …

The Swinebone Trophy is up for grabs tonight, as Three Rivers varsity football welcomes Vicksburg High School to town. Three Rivers, 3-and-2 on the season, is coming off a humbling loss to previously winless Gull Lake a week ago. Vicksburg, meanwhile, is also 3-and-2. It defeated Niles last Friday, 31-to-14. Tonight’s games will be carried live on WRCI 97.1 FM …

Michigan election officials would begin processing absentee ballots two days before the Nov. 8 election under legislation approved Wednesday in hopes of avoiding delays in counting, with absentee voting expected to remain a popular option. Michigan is one of several key swing states that allows no-excuse mail-in ballots but doesn’t allow local election offices to begin processing ballots until 7 a.m. on …

An Indiana resident was hospitalized after being involved in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the 26-year-old Mishawaka resident was driving north at 12:30 p.m. on U.S. 131, near Graber Road, when their vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a southbound semi tractor-trailer driven by a 56-year-old Florida resident. The driver of the …

The Langley Covered Bridge re-opened to traffic Tuesday, eight days after it was closed due to damage caused by a horse trailer. St. Joseph County Road Commission Manager John Lindsey said the height restrictor at the north end of the bridge was knocked off its base Sept. 19 by a trailer attached to a southbound pickup. Lindsey said the height …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a utility vehicle from a business in Park Township. Investigators said a 2013 John Deere Gator was stolen from GreenMark Equipment between 6 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The incident occurred at GreenMark’s location in the 16000 block of Heimbach Road.

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash Wednesday in Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said authorities were notified shortly before 11 a.m. to an injury crash on U.S. 12 at Union Road. Investigators said Marcellus resident Martha Cramer, 44, was driving east on U.S. 12. She failed to yield before attempting to turn north onto Union Road. She …

The Sturgis Electric Department is conducting inventory and confirmation of all equipment, making it necessary to sometimes access private properties. City workers are examining transformer locations, as well as overhead, underground secondary and primary power lines. At times, it will be necessary to be on citizen property to accurately collect information needed, city officials said. The project is expected to …