News

Two annual financial allocations by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners are expected to be made next week. During their executive committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners agreed to continue their once-a-year payments to Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County, and the Community Health Agency that oversees St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale counties. Finance director Angie Steinman …

Centreville Board of Education members are expected to have an interim superintendent in place within two weeks. With Stephanie Lemmer poised to leave the district for Pennfield Schools before the end of the month, the board agreed during a special meeting Monday to follow through on pursuing someone from a small group of potential candidates. Based on board feedback, it …

State Sen. Kim LaSata, has announced she will run for re-election in the newly created State Senate District 17, created as a result of the Independent Redistricting Commission. LaSata, who is completing her first four-year term in 2022, presently represents a majority of the new 17th Senate District. LaSata will continue to serve constituents within the current 21st district through …

A barn was deemed a total loss as a result of a fire Monday night in Mottville Township. The incident happened around 8 p.m. on a mile-long driveway in the 69000 block of Blue School Road. White Pigeon Fire Chief Tyler Royce said with the colder weather, several departments were called to help with mutual aid for water shuffle. The …

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services notified Van Buren/Cass District Health Department that the Omicron variant has been identified in a Cass County resident. Health officer Danielle Persky said although between Cass and Van Buren County there are now two Omicron variants identified, it can be safely assumed there are many others given the speed at which Omicron …

A Sturgis man Rodney Combs, 51, will serve a minimum 10 years in prison after grooming a teenaged girl for sex. Combs pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct in regard to one incident during the two-year relationship, which started in 2017. The teen chose to not comment at sentencing or testify about the relationship. St. Joseph County Chief Assistant …

A new batch of employees has been hired by Glen Oaks Community College. Ayla Wilder joins Glen Oaks as director of housing operations and residential life. Wilder is from the University of Indianapolis. Michael Elliott is the new assistant director of residential life. Elliott is a Glen Oaks alum who also coaches the Viking men’s basketball team. Sara Kohler has …

Michigan hospitals reported a record number of COVID-19 patients Monday, surpassing the peak from nearly a month ago before the state’s daily already-high infection counts surged to new heights due to the more contagious omicron variant. Roughly 4,900 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus, including 4,580 adults with a positive test. The previous pandemic high …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency last week was notified of the first identified cases of the Omicron variant in St. Joseph County. Medical director Karen Luparello said it is important to know that not all COVID tests are sequenced, so it is likely there are additional cases. She encourages residents to continue using standard-mitigation strategies that include staying home if …

A longtime fixture at Sturgis Police Department passed away last week. Eugene Alli served as the city’s chief of police from 1986 until his retirement in 2004. He was 81. Ryan Banaszak, director of public safety at Sturgis Police & Fire, remembered Alli as a progressive law enforcement leader who valued professionalism, education and made available training opportunities to advance the Sturgis …