News

St. Joseph County Animal Control has established three drop boxes for anyone wishing to donate items to the Centreville-based agency. Drop boxes are at: Fibre Converters on Industrial Drive in Constantine, Glen Oaks Community College and outside Pivotal, formerly Community Mental Health, in Centreville. Donation ideas include unscented bleach, adult dry dog food, leashes, collars, wet dog food, white vinegar, …

Centreville High School has announced the hiring of James Phillips as its new varsity football coach. Phillips had been an assistant coach at Three Rivers High School for a number of years. He replaces Jerry Schultz, who has accepted the head coach job at Mattawan High School.

Nearly a year after construction began, St. Joseph County’s Three Rivers courts building hosted its ceremonial ribbon-cutting Tuesday. The site houses the county’s Family Court, which is comprised of Friend of the Court, and juvenile and probate court. Their relocation frees up much-needed space at the Centreville courts building. County commission chairman Ken Malone welcomed a crowd of more than …

A Sturgis woman died last weekend in a single-vehicle crash in Branch County’s Bethel Township. Sheriff’s department officials were called around 3 p.m. Saturday to an area along Block Road. Investigators said Guinevere Shaina Mow, 40, died at the scene of the crash. Her 4-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Crash investigators said …

A Young 5s teacher at Andrews Elementary in Three Rivers has been awarded “Educator of the Year” honor, as bestowed by the Three Rivers Rotary Club. Brea Bennett, a 21-year Three Rivers Community Schools employee, was honored during a ceremony hosted earlier this month by Three Rivers Rotary Club. A Vicksburg native, Bennett was nominated by parents of one of …

Constantine Village Council members recently voted in favor of allowing residents to keep chickens as domestic pets. A provision to the ordinance allows up to six chickens per single-family unit under the premise of using eggs and meat yielded by the animals. Additional rules dictate chickens must be kept in the rear yard inside a secured area that includes a …

Several members of a local 4-H group took part in a volunteer project completed just before Memorial Day. Edward Klein, leader of the Mendon Green Clovers, said about a dozen members helped place flags at Mendon’s two cemeteries in advance of the Memorial Day holiday. Klein, who took over the Mendon club about a year ago, said he is eager …

Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority officials recently celebrated the opening of the city’s Downtown Dog Park. The ceremonial ribbon cutting May 18 capped a $20,000 fundraising effort that was met last July, thanks in part to a matching grant offered by Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The fenced-in park is situated in an area between the city’s skate park and a …

April’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent from March. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 3.9 percent in March to 3.8 percent in April. In addition, Cass County also experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from …

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11 p.m. Saturday to Brownsville Street, near M-62, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said 42-year-old Marcellus resident Gila Wigton was traveling east on Brownsville Street when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle stopped in the opposite lane. The second vehicle was driven by 23-year-old …