News

Officials from Constantine Public Schools will have to return to the drawing board if they hope to pursue another millage-increase request. District voters Tuesday turned down a request for an additional two-tenths of a mill in order to complete a number of ambitious plans. Unofficial numbers from St. Joseph County show 266 voters OK’d the plan, while 356 opposed the …

Just about every vote counted in Nottawa Township on election day, as a five-vote margin will allow the township to improve a number of its roads. Passed by a vote of 150 in favor and 145 opposed, the township’s request for an additional 1-mill will cover a five-year period. Township officials said the mill will generate an additional $115,000 in …

A trio of incumbents for the Three Rivers City Commission will serve four more years, while the results of a write-in campaign for an at-large seat to the seven-member board will be announced Thursday. Mayor Tom Lowry, with 22 years served, was re-elected with 390 votes. Meanwhile, First District incumbent Pat Dane topped challenger Justin Mitchell. Dane secured 267 votes …

A Centreville woman charged with embezzling from two area churches has pleaded no contest. Carol Kotschevar appeared in St. Joseph County Circuit Court Oct. 27. Her defense of no contest follows a plea agreement reached with prosecutor David Marvin. The case centers on thousands of dollars Kotschevar stole from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Colon and St. Paul’s Lutheran of …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Monday for insurance refunds of up to $675 per vehicle to be quickly issued to drivers. In a letter to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, the Democratic governor cited a surplus of $5 billion that she attributed to premium overcharges and a 2019 law that cut insurers’ medical costs for people injured in crashes. The surplus was up …

September’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by nine-tenths of a percent from August. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.9 percent in August to 4 percent in September. The rate was 6.2 percent 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, Cass …

A hero in the world of law enforcement was memorialized Saturday in Three Rivers. A ceremony honoring Three Rivers native and former St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department member Ryan Proxmire took place at Armstrong Park. A bench was unveiled and dedicated in Proxmire’s memory. The effort to add a bench in the children’s area of the park was led by …

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer announced late last week that the district will return to face-to-face instruction for students in the elementary school. Students in the high school building, however, will remain in virtual-learning mode for the entire week. Lemmer over the weekend announced the district’s three kindergarten sections will be learning remotely due to positive COVID cases. The …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency began offering all manufacturer’s vaccine booster doses to residents last week. Due to high demand for booster doses, the Three Rivers clinic will be open until 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Residents should make appointments on the agency’s website: bhsj.org/scheduling. The phone number is 273-2161, ext. 7. As a reminder, those who received a Pfizer or …

Two stolen campers were returned to their respective owners earlier this week. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called shortly after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 12000 block of Riverside Drive. Deputies secured a search warrant and discovered a $35,000 camper on the premises. Upon further investigation, deputies found a second camper, valued at $27,000. Additional information about possible arrests …