News

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging executive director Pam Riley last week expressed concerns about parking at Oaks Enrichment Center in Sturgis when the city’s new splash pad moves in next door. Riley brought up the matter during her director’s report at a meeting of the COA advisory board. She said she had previously met with Sturgis city manager Mike …

Masks are mandatory in a southwestern Michigan school district after officials set the policy in an unusual way: They took a vote of the people. Parents, guardians and staff in the Pennfield district voted for masks, starting Monday and lasting through Feb. 18. There were 1,041 votes, and about 58% were in favor. Masks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the break-in and theft of an all-terrain vehicle from Planet Powersports in Coldwater. The incident occurred between midnight and 4 a.m. Friday. An ATV was confirmed stolen, with the use of a second suspect truck – possibly a U-Haul. The four-seat ATV is a 2022 Polaris RZR Pro 4, side by side, black and …

White Pigeon Village President Tyler Royce last week said the municipality is seeking proposals from three different sources to provide ambulance service. Near the conclusion of the village’s Jan. 19 meeting, Royce prefaced his report by saying White Pigeon currently has ambulatory service through Battle Creek-based LifeCare Ambulance. He said Southeast Public Safety Authority, based in Cass County’s Porter Township, …

The city of Bronson is asking its water customers to begin running a small stream of water from one faucet in their home or business. The flowing water should be about the diameter of a pencil. The need to keep water running is based on predictions of below-zero temperatures this week. Running water will keep underground pipes from freezing, Bronson …

A Sturgis man was sentenced to prison for a situation over the summer in which he was clocked speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour. John Wales, 26, was ordered to serve as many as five years for the incident. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced Wales earlier this month. During Wales’ probation check-in on Aug. …

Details of a committee planning the restoration of a century-old building in White Pigeon were announced during this week’s village council meeting. The Union Hall Building Restoration Committee hopes to raise enough funds to save the building that houses the Tasty Nut Shop and Silver Spoon Catering. Gretchen Andersen, a retired White Pigeon Community Schools teacher, serves as chair of …

Three Rivers Community Schools interim superintendent Nikki Nash said three of the district’s six schools will switch from in-person learning to a virtual format starting today and lasting through next week. Students at the district’s high school, middle school and Hoppin Elementary will return to in-person learning Jan. 31. Nash said the district in the past few weeks has seen …

Sheriff’s officials were called earlier this week to a single-vehicle crash in Constantine Township. Deputies responded shortly after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Constantine and Withers roads. Investigators found that the driver of a pickup, 25-year-old Delmar Laughry of Three Rivers, had lost control after crossing a set of railroad tracks south of the intersection. His vehicle crossed …

The final stipulations regarding American Rescue Plan funds have been issued, and the result is good news for St. Joseph County. County administrator Teresa Doehring told commissioners Tuesday that the county’s $11 million awarded last year comes with fewer strings attached than what originally was stated. Doehring said a steering committee, formed last spring to plan the best use of …