News

Vicksburg officials are exploring the idea of selling Angels Crossing Golf Club. Details of the proposal were laid out by Village Manager Jim Mallery during the council’s Feb. 2 meeting. Mallery said the village purchased the course out of bankruptcy around 2010. It finally turned a profit for the first time in 2015, Mallery said. He said the village’s investment …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department have released the identity of the woman who died in a camper fire last weekend in Lockport Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said the victim is 67-year-old Juanita Kimble, a Three Rivers-area resident. Spence said emergency personnel were dispatched late Friday to the 57000 block of Mitchell Street, near the Three Rivers airport, …

Community Action is organizing a diaper drive for eligible St. Joseph County residents. Agency officials ask that anyone interested in receiving diapers to call the Community Action Sturgis Center. Its number is 659-9047. The distribution takes place at 306 S. Nottawa St., in Sturgis. It features a one-month supply of diapers or pull-ups, along with wipes. It also has help …

Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste facility will be open Saturday. Through an agreement with Kalamazoo County, St. Joseph County residents are able to patronize the drop-off site at no cost. The collection center is open just one Saturday a month, in addition to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly. Hours this weekend are 8 a.m. to noon. Items accepted at the …

A Colon resident has been sentenced for embezzling more than $100,000 from customers of a local financial institution. Angela Vanderstraaten, 46, was ordered last week to serve up to 40 years, a sentence issued by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Vanderstraaten previously worked for eight years as a teller at Omni Credit Union in Colon, where she …

Saturday’s chili cook-off event in Three Rivers over the weekend produced a top-three lineup of winners based on a public vote. First place went to the newly opened Farrand Hall, while runner-up was GG’s Cookies. Third-place winner was Daly Dope Dispensary. A field of 10 participants representing Three Rivers-based businesses took part in the downtown-focused event, which was rescheduled from …

Here’s a look at February’s Fresh Food Distribution events in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, hosts the first distribution of the month. It starts at 4 o’clock Tuesday. First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis is next. Its distribution is at 4 p.m. Thursday at 1320 S. Lakeview Ave. Constantine High School hosts the following event, …

St. Joseph County Substance Abuse Taskforce is launching its Methamphetamine Prevention and Awareness campaign. Agency officials said the campaign is an effort to help share education and awareness in the community. Over the course of coming weeks, the taskforce will share posts to help the public understand what meth is and what resources are available. Segments of the campaign can …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is hosting a seasonal program later this month in Van Buren County. “Winter Woodpeckers,” a special event, will be held Feb. 21, starting at 8:30 a.m., at Portman Nature Preserve, located off 49th Avenue in the Paw Paw area. The event is free but limited to 20 participants. Leaders of the 1.5-mile hike will focus on …

Women Infants and Children of Michigan has announced new WIC food packages beginning next month. Agency officials said the changes will include more food choices, better support for healthy eating habits and new options for different diets. For example, more dollars will be available for fruits and vegetables instead of juice; dairy choices will include milk, cheese, yogurt or tofu; …