News

New coronavirus cases increased 5.6 percent in Michigan in the week ending May 22, as the state added nearly 30,000 cases. The previous week had more than 27,000 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 52 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 55 cases and zero deaths. …

Cass County deputies responded last week to a five-vehicle crash in Marcellus Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded shortly after 3 p.m. Friday to M-40, in an area south of Brody Road. The driver of the first vehicle was identified as Dean Miller, 58, of Mendon. The second driver was Keisha Sylvester, 31, of Kalamazoo. Authorities said the third …

A 42-year-old Sturgis man will be sentenced to prison next month after he was convicted of having sex with a teenage girl. Kirk Hoff Jr. will be sentenced June 24 after a St. Joseph County Circuit Court jury convicted him last week of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The alleged incident involved a 14-year old babysitter in June 2020. The jury …

Five employees, including three currently employed by Vicksburg Community Schools, were hired by Centreville Board of Education Monday. Dennis Kirby will return to the district after serving the past six years as Vicksburg Middle School assistant principal. He will be Centreville’s elementary school principal. Shannon Reed, who has spent the past two years as Vicksburg’s Title 1 teacher, returns to …

Personnel from the Constantine Fire Department responded to a reported barn fire Monday in Constantine Township. Chief Mike Haydon said personnel were alerted around 1:45 p.m. to a barn in the 62000 block of U.S. 131. The fire was reported to Central Dispatch. By the time fire crews arrived, three barns were fully ablaze, Haydon said. Approximately 30 firefighters from …

Three Rivers native Jamie Clark has been selected to serve as Grand Marshall of the 2022 Water Festival Street Parade. Clark, owner of Clark Logic, has been active in promoting Three Rivers through a variety of projects and contributions that address his goal of the beautification of Three Rivers. Clark grew up in Three Rivers, graduating from Three Rivers High …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle crash last week in Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were notified at 5:20 p.m. Saturday of a crash on Church Street, near Hathaway Road. The driver was identified as 21-year-old Seth Lamarbe, of Marcellus. Investigators said Lamarbe was traveling west on Church Street, where his vehicle lost control from loose …

The Constantine Village Council last week received an update regarding its new wastewater-treatment plant. The village is refurbishing an earlier wastewater facility that was decommissioned in 1997. Effluent has been piped to the Three Rivers plant ever since. Expected completion time frame for the $13 million overhaul is April 2024. An industrial treatment program by engineers Fleis & VanDenbrink engineers, …

Several students in the St. Joseph County Career & Technical Education Construction Trades-Residential Building program recently took first place in the Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society Residential Construction competition. The students worked together to formulate a plan from prints that they were given, determined job responsibilities and proceeded to build a structure in one day. The structure this year was …

Roberta Tonkin has been hired as Constantine village clerk. Tonkin’s employment follows an interview by council members. Village manager Mark Honeysett hired Tonkin as a new administrative assistant on May 5. Her first day of work was May 16. Tonkin has served as an office manager at several locations and is a Notary Public.