News

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dennis Allen has declared a county-wide state of emergency. In a statement dated Saturday, Allen noted a series of storms Wednesday and Thursday caused widespread and severe damage, fostered by straight-line winds. Allen said critical infrastructure was compromised, homes and other properties were damaged, and hazardous debris impacted emergency response. The state of …

A 43-year-old Sturgis man is in serious condition after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a truck last week in Sherman Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Banker Street Road and Nottawa Road. A pickup driven by a 20-year-old Sturgis man was eastbound on Banker when it …

Consumers Power of Jackson teamed up with the St. Joseph County United Way Monday for distribution of ice and water to aid residents still without electricity. Roger Curtis, Consumers’ vice president of public affairs, said the event was organized in rapid fashion Monday and came together in a matter of hours. The distribution took place over a three-hour period at …

A Three Rivers man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for his involvement in the shooting of a woman last year. Lee Parker Jr., 22, was sentenced for one count of assault with intent to murder as well as felony firearms from an April 2020 incident with a 17-year-old woman. His sentence was issued in St. Joseph …

Cleanup and power restoration efforts are continuing in St. Joseph County following a series of storms last week. Sturgis officials declared a local state of emergency related to widespread, severe damage caused by the violent weather. City officials said the storms resulted in substantial damage to the city’s power lines due to downed trees and limbs, as well as damaged power poles. …

After a one-year hiatus, the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging last week resumed a popular, annual event. The COA picnic took place Wednesday at Covered Bridge Farm Park. It was the first major outing for local senior citizens under the COA auspices since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown. Alex Kelley, COA life enrichment coordinator, said about 140 people …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a camper trailer in White Pigeon Township. The camper was stolen at some point over a 24-hour period from 5:30 p.m. Friday in the 17000 block of Indian Prairie Road. The camper was a single-axle 2022 Wolf Pup, white, black and blue in color. The suspect vehicle was a white Chevy …

Michigan has passed the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a top state health official warning that people must continue taking precautions. State health officials reported Friday that Michigan had totaled 20,011 confirmed deaths since recording its first one in March 2020. “We’ve seen real devastation and tragedy as a result of COVID-19, and it remains as …

Consumers Energy plans to install about 700 solar panels covering 1.5 acres at its natural gas compression station on “A” Road in White Pigeon Township. Company officials said the goal is to save on power cost. The White Pigeon compressor station is one of eight in the Consumers Energy system that helps to transport natural gas throughout the state. Indiana-Michigan Power now …

A pair of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Board of Education members were sworn into office and board officers appointed last month. Elizabeth O’Dell will remain as board president for 2021-22. She also was sworn in to a six-year term ending in June 2027. Meanwhile, Trustee Patricia Keller was sworn in to a four-year term ending in June 2025. …