News

Former Colon Community Schools Superintendent Penny Brockway has returned to work where she had her first out-of-college teaching job. Brockway is back on staff at Coldwater Community Schools. Her first day as director of curriculum and instruction was March 1 – less than a month after her final day as Colon’s superintendent. Brockway first arrived in the district in 1992 …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a seven-foot-tall sasquatch lawn ornament from a residence in Park Township. The incident occurred on or after March 22 on West End Road, near Heimbach Road. Investigators said the lawn ornament is made of sheet metal material and is rusty-brown in color with various sharp edges to detail fur. It appears …

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election to another two-year term. Upton’s interest in running again was subject to debate in the wake of an independent redistricting commission’s creation of new boundaries that put Upton and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland in the same district. Upton and nine other Republicans voted to impeach for President …

An Indiana Toll Road exit that provides a link to U.S. 131 in Michigan remains closed indefinitely. The Middlebury Toll Road, exit 107, was forced to close Jan. 13 after a vehicle caught fire while at the plaza. Toll Road officials said the fire caused considerable structural damage, including the collection booths, equipment and the roof. Toll Road officials said …

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Sheriff Mark Lillywhite has issued a media release with information about the problem. Lillywhite said according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,100 people were fatally injured in crashes due to distracted driving in 2020. Lillywhite described distracted driving as anything that causes a motorist take their hands off …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering report from a location in Branch County. Troopers were called to the 600 block of Lilly Road in Bronson Township. Investigators said a generator and chainsaw were stolen from the premises between March 17 and March 23. The generator is a Coleman Powermate, while the chainsaw was made by Stihl.

Longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton, who voted to impeach President Donald Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, announced Tuesday he will not run for a 19th term in Congress. Upton, 68, is the fourth of 10 Republicans who backed impeachment to not seek reelection, joining Reps. John Katko of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Anthony Gonzalez of …

Michigan reported more than 5,400 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, down 4.1 percent from the previous week. The previous week had more than 5,600 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 14 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported six cases and no deaths. …

Kelly Hostetler, executive director of St. Joseph County United Way, will be honored next week for her work supporting the health of the community. The event will take place April 13 at the Rotunda of the state capital in Lansing. The award recognizes individuals and organizations across the state working to maintain and improve the health of their local communities. The …

Three Rivers Rotary Club is in the midst of a fundraiser, with proceeds to benefit Ukraine Emergency Relief in its conflict with Russia. Club president Jeff Middleton said the $5,000 goal is being called “The Ukrainian Challenge” and is open to the public, not just Rotary members. He said donations, whether the goal is met or not, will be turned …