News

A longtime business in Constantine Township was destroyed by fire last week. Graber Industries, an RV supply retailer in the 19000 block of Fairchild Road, caught fire around 10 a.m. Friday morning. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far away as Colon, Bronson and Middlebury. Multiple buildings were destroyed, though fire departments kept the blaze secured as much …

Sturgis Hospital is facing mounting financial deficits, and officials from the medical facility have turned to the city for help. Hospital officials approached Sturgis City Commission last week to ask for a $645,000 loan to keep the facility open until a decision is made for $15 million in emergency funding. If approved by the state, that $15 million to fund …

A Sturgis man was found guilty by jury this week on charges related to child pornography. A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest and eventual conviction of 24-year-old Adalberto “Jacob” Garcia. Garcia was found guilty after a two-day trial overseen this week by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. The case centered on …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a larceny of multiple firearms from a location in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. According to a department media release, troopers were called to the 100 block of North Behnke Road to investigate the situation. Authorities were told the incident occurred June 7. Troopers said they have reason to believe the firearms are now in …

The Constantine Village Council this week reviewed a St. Joseph Ambulance Consortium agreement involving 18 local municipalities. The agreement is for Burr Oak, Colon, Constantine, Fawn River, Florence, Leonidas, Mottville, Nottawa, Mendon, Sherman, Sturgis and White Pigeon townships, and the villages of Burr Oak, Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon and White Pigeon. It states the SJAC board will consist of one …

White Pigeon Community Schools is set to hire one of its own to lead the 730-student district. Pending the formality of board approval next week, Shelly McBride will become the district’s superintendent July 1. She replaces the two-person administrative team of Jon Keyer and Carrie Erlandson, who both retired at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. McBride, a 1997 …

A Bronson man and three others died in a two-vehicle crash last week north of Coldwater. State police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3 p.m. Saturday on Marshall Road in Branch County’s Girard Township. The incident occurred north of Bidwell Road. Investigators said Christopher Raymond, 45, was driving south on Marshall Road in a small SUV. It appears he …

After a several-year hiatus, a weekly farmers market has returned to downtown Sturgis. The open-air market is open 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays on Pleasant Avenue through October. Sturgis Downtown Development Authority event coordinator Ryan Conrod said with recent work completed on Pleasant Avenue, it was an ideal location to host the market. The downtown farmers market complements an unrelated …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is completing its plan to provide COVID-19 vaccination with Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to children 6 months to 5 years of age. Health officer Rebecca Burns said the agency must complete required training and documentation for its clinical staff, and the administrative tasks required to begin the vaccination program for the age group. She …

Friends of two teens injured in a four-vehicle crash last week gathered at Sturgis High School for a prayer vigil. Friends of Jillian Romanyk and Fekile Lind organized Sunday’s event. The two are in critical condition at a Kalamazoo hospital after the Chevy Silverado they were in crossed the center line on U.S. 12 about 4 p.m. Friday in Burr …