News

The Sturgis City Commission appointed two residents to fill a pair of openings. Wednesday’s vote by the city commission means Brandon Kinsey and Aaron Miller will complete unfulfilled terms. One opening was the result of the passing of commissioner Jon Good. The other was due to Justin Wickey stepping down before completing his full term. Kinsey and Miller will take …

The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals has recognized the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce with the 2021 “Award of Distinction” at the MACP Leadership Conference last week. Joe Bauman, chair of the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals, said Three Rivers and chambers of commerce across the state play an extraordinary role in keeping businesses informed about changes in government …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded recently to two different catalytic converter thefts in the northern tier of the county. Agency officials said the first incident took place in the 17000 block of Michigan Avenue in Park Township, the other in the 50000 block of Chamberlain Road in Flowerfield Township. Investigators said catalytic converter thefts have been an ongoing …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency will begin offering vaccine booster doses to residents who meet at least one in a list of criteria. Qualification is based on whether a potential recipient is 65 years of age or older, 18 or older with underlying medical conditions, 18 or older who lives in a long-term care setting, or 18 or older who …

Michigan State Police has announced it will be hosting a “Women in Law Enforcement Recruiting” seminar next month. The event will take place noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Marshall Post, 714 North Old U.S. 27 in Marshall. Event organizers said the purpose of the seminar is to create an environment where women interested in a career in …

State officials have barred a township clerk in southern Michigan from running her community’s local election next week. Stephanie Scott, the clerk in Hillsdale County’s Adams Township, failed to take steps to ensure the security of the vote, the Michigan Bureau of Elections said. The county instead will supervise the election in the township. The state said Scott did not …

A Colon man faces homicide charges in the death of 33-year-old Chelsea Wallen. Michael Lafler, 35, is charged with the capital offense stemming from an incident that claimed the life of the Colon woman. Colon police and rescue, along with LifeCare Ambulance, responded Oct. 15 to a residence regarding a report of an unresponsive female. First responders were not able to revive …

Michigan reported fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday compared to a week earlier, adding 27,308 new cases. That’s down 11 percent from the previous week’s tally of 30,685 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 236 cases and four deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 231 cases and …

St. Joseph County United Way has begun its 2022 fundraising campaign It is hoping to raise $1.06 million to fund the numerous agencies it assists. Agency director Kelly Hostetler said the final donation tally for last year’s campaign was $1.1 million. The leading donor in 2021 was Morgan Olson, which raised and donated about $171,000. Jeff Bloomfield and Garrett Hall …

Centreville Public Schools plans to go virtual for three days starting Wednesday. During Monday’s board of education meeting, superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said rising COVID numbers impacting students and staff, coupled with the lack of substitute assistance, justified the recommendation. Lemmer said the district was informed late Sunday of additional student and staff cases. On Monday, efforts were made to contact …