News

Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce has announced Sturgis “Citizens of the Year” for 2022: Cathi Garn-Abbs and Mike Stiles. Garn-Abbs is best-known as executive director of Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, a role she began in 2000. She also worked at Kirsch for many years prior to that. According to one nominating letter, she was, and still is, “the face of Sturgis,” pertaining to her …

Abbott Nutrition reopened its production operations at its Sturgis plant over the weekend following a closure of nearly four months. The FDA-mandated closure came in the wake of bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula produced at the Sturgis plant. Two infants died. Abbott officials said it will prioritize production of formulas for babies with food allergies and digestive …

Rehabilitation of a bridge in Colon Township is starting this week. The St. Joseph County Road Commission said a bridge on Wattles Road, between Stowell and West Burr Oak roads, will be fully closed during the rehabilitation. The work is expected to begin today and detour options are posted.

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced a flaw at a bridge west of Centreville will be corrected this year. Agency manager John Lindsey said both approaches to the M-86 bridge over the Prairie River will be fixed following a bid-letting process next month by Michigan Department of Transportation. Lindsey said he expects work to begin in the fall. …

A Cass County man died following a one-vehicle crash last week in Constantine Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 4:30 a.m. Thursday to a location on Youngs Prairie Road, near Harder Road. Investigators determined that the 20-year-old victim was driving south on Youngs Prairie Road when his vehicle crossed the center line and went …

A 45-year-old Branch County man died last week after the motorcycle he was driving crashed in Batavia Township. Branch County Sheriff John Pollack said deputies were notified around 4 p.m. Friday that a motorcycle was being driven east on U.S. 12, when a gust of wind pushed the motorcycle across the centerline and into the path of a pickup driven …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced last week the departure of a long-time member of the department. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Montenegro ended a 17-year career with the Cass County office Friday. She plans to move to Georgia and serve in a similar capacity in Chatham County at its county seat in Savannah. Fitz said Montenegro has long been an …

Seven longtime employees with Three Rivers Community Schools plan to retire after the 2021-22 academic year concludes at the end of the week. They are: Pam Bosma, Three Rivers Middle School social studies. Bosma has been with the district 46 years. Diane Dykstra, Three Rivers Middle School special education. Dykstra is a 12-year employee with TRCS. Lisa Linn, Three Rivers …

Language to recall White Pigeon Village President Tyler Royce has been submitted to the St. Joseph County Clerk’s office. Jerry Kash filed the paperwork Thursday in the office of county clerk Lindsay Oswald. Kash alleges Royce has compromised ethics, and used municipal equipment and employees to perform personal work outside the realm of village-related duties. Ultimately, Kash hopes to recall …

Michigan reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding almost 26,000 new cases. That’s down 11.3 percent from the previous week’s tally of more than 29,000 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 52 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 52 cases and one …