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Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2021 “Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture” award winner, Loren King of Burr Oak, brought his insight and expertise in farm advocacy and technology to the national stage Saturday, taking home second place at AFBF’s annual convention in Atlanta. The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed to recognize young farmers for their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and …

Authorities have identified two southwest Michigan women who died last week when their car caught fire after apparently getting stuck in heavy snowfall. Electra May Sutfin, 27, of Galien, and Chloe Clink, 28, of Dowagiac died early on Jan. 7 south of Dowagiac, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. The women were identified by the Kalamazoo Medical Examiner’s Office …

All Michigan families eligible for food assistance benefits are receiving an additional monthly payment in January in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently announced. Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card from Saturday through Jan. 24. These benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate …

Lori Higgins, client services director for the Pregnancy Helpline Center, said the agency has secured a video-parenting curriculum that might be of interest to soon-to-be parents. Higgins said one-on-one parenting programs are available for dads and moms who are expecting, and for parents of newborn to 2 years of age. Pregnancy Helpline Center has trained men and women mentors eager …

Michigan’s record high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations could peak in late January or early February before beginning to drop, state health officials said Tuesday, while urging residents to help control the height of the crest. “We have a choice to make: Do we want to work on bringing that peak down or do we just want to let this omicron …

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 …