News

The 60-year ministry of Rev. Wally Walsworth was celebrated earlier this month during a special service at Sturgis First United Methodist Church. Friends, family, former parishioners and current worshipers at the church where he served as pastor from 1993-1995 were present to recognize his service, as well as the establishment of a scholarship at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill., in …

Three Rivers municipal officials recently approved a second marijuana-grow facility within the city limits. During their city commission meeting last week, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners approved a request by Indiana-based Native Leaf LLC. for a facility on a nine-acre property in the city’s Airport Industrial Complex. Company officials plan to develop a 30,000-square-foot facility that will grow marijuana for …

An Indiana father and his son died in a two-vehicle collision last week in Constantine Township. State police troopers were called Thursday afternoon to an area of U.S. 131 between Youngs Prairie and Quarterline roads. Investigators said a pickup driven by Albert Fields Jr., 58, of Middlebury, was heading north when it crossed the centerline and struck a southbound semi …

A Colon man will serve up to 10 years in prison for assaulting his girlfriend. Matthew Burger, 39, was sentenced earlier this month by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Burger will serve a term of at least five years. Burger’s sentencing is the result of a Feb. 11 incident. Court officials said Burger, who has a history …

St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman recently sent four people to the Michigan Department of Corrections after the quartet failed to complete drug programs and ended up with new charges. Curtis Pollitt, 52, of Three Rivers, was sentenced to two to 15 years for escape. He will serve two years to 20 years for possession of meth; Robert Craig, …

State Police are investigating a 2-vehicle crash which occurred Thursday afternoon on US-131 near Youngs Prairie Road in Constantine Township. Initial reports indicate the driver of a northbound pickup truck collided head-on with a southbound semi-rig. The two occupants in the pickup were pronounced dead at the scene.  No names have been released.

St. Joseph County officials Tuesday formalized an agreement with White Pigeon Community Schools to provide the district a school resource deputy. The matter was raised last week during the commission’s executive committee meeting. Representing the school district, board of education member Mike Swinehart thanked the county commission for agreeing to work with the district and help with a position that …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved four reappointments and two new appointments to the county’s Commission on Aging Advisory Board. Mendon Township resident Britt Buscher was reappointed to a one-year, at-large term. Reappointed to the board for two-year terms were Jon Withers, a Florence Township resident; Burr Oak Township’s George Letts; and Sarah Apwisch, of Fabius Township. …

The Economic Development Administration announced Wednesday the U.S. Department of Commerce is investing $3.7 million in American Rescue Funds to support business development in Vicksburg. The project will help create and retain jobs by supporting the development of two commercial lots in Vicksburg’s industrial business park and a 100-acre industrial-zoned lot, in addition to the redevelopment of a former paper …

Michigan State Police troopers are looking for a man and woman who allegedly passed a bad check and stole a car this week in Branch County’s Kinderhook Township. According to a department media release, 59-year-old Brian David Martin and 52-year-old Angela Plovie met in the 700 block of Angola Road with the intent of buying a car from an individual. …