News

During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said the five-county Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium has been dissolved. He said St. Joseph County, however, will continue to keep its own Solid Waste Committee. On an unrelated note, Hoffmaster said the St. Joseph County Transportation Board is in need of members. The board meets the third Tuesday of the month. …

Sturgis commissioners are reviewing a plan calling for development of a trail on leased Michigan Southern Railway right-of-way. The proposed route would extend from west of Big Hill Road west to North Jefferson Street, then south to Chicago Road. Initially, the scope of work consists of preliminary design layout, final design, preparation of contractor requests for bids, evaluation of bids, …

The St. Joseph County United Way has stepped in to assist the family of a Centreville man and his young son who both died in a car crash last weekend. Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency has established a fund to aid the family of Phillip Parker with funeral expenses and other financial demands. Parker, age 30, and his 5-year-old …

A Florence Township resident will replace a long-time member of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. County commissioners Tuesday appointed David Miars to the six-year term, replacing David Allen. Allen had indicated he was ready to step down from the road commission board after completing a six-year term of his own. Miars, who is chairman of the county’s Public …

St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is appealing to businesses and individuals willing to help support its annual New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home program. The six-hour service starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 and is offered free of charge to New Year’s Eve revelers in St. Joseph County. CTA drivers will pick up and drop off a rider anywhere in …

A Colon business owner is giving a priceless gift to her 10 employees: two weeks of paid vacation. Dawn Furney, owner of Dawn’s Café, said the paid time off was part of a deal she made with her staff. Furney said she adopted a four-days-on, three-days-off work schedule and an hourly pay raise. In exchange, Furney modified the restaurant’s hours …

A Jones man was injured in a single-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday to Bair Lake Street, near Wood Lake Road. Authorities said a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Adam Bistodeau, of Jones, left the roadway and struck a tree. Bistodeau was transported to Three …

Three Branch County men and a Sturgis resident were arrested for allegedly stealing property from tornado-damaged homes and vehicles in Kentucky. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and police in Caldwell County, Ky., announced the arrests Friday. Cameron said Sevon Gowen, 25, of Sturgis, was charged with possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree …

Michigan reported more than 46,000 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Dec. 19, down 7.3 percent from the previous week. Meanwhile, St. Joseph County reported 227 cases and 10 deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 327 cases and six deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 10,601 cases and 152 deaths. Cases fell in 61 Michigan counties, with the …

Southwest Enforcement Team officers executed a search warrant Friday at a home in the 69000 block of Union Road in Cass County’s Porter Township. Three adults at the residence were detained and questioned. The investigation stemmed from tips received regarding suspected drug sales from the home. A 47-year-old Union man, the occupant of the home, was arrested for possession of …