News

Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County recently reached a financial milestone. Over the course of its 23-year existence, ARF has helped fund $500,000 in services and assistance, said Loralee Knepper, a charter member of ARF. Knepper, a Mendon-area resident, said ARF has a small-emergency program but its main focus and biggest outlay has been spay/neuter, which accounts for the …

St. Joseph County United Way Executive Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency is in need of help for its 2021 Silent Auction at the upcoming county fair. The Silent Auction is a major fundraiser for the Centreville-based agency, Hostetler said. In addition to the option of attending the Silent Auction in person, the United Way has teamed with ReMax Elite …

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport has been awarded a Small Community Air Service Development grant of $1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Craig Williams, airport director, said the grant will be used as a revenue guarantee and marketing tool to recruit and support an air carrier for nonstop service to Charlotte, N.C. The SCASD grant is an important tool …

St. Joseph County authorities have identified the Sturgis man who died in a traffic collision last week in Florence Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said Florin Gavril Olarean, 47, died after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a Ford F-150 at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in an area on Lutz Road near Dickinson Road. Investigators said Olaraen was driving a …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a motor vehicle theft that occurred last week in Constantine Township. Investigators said the incident occurred between 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. The vehicle was taken from a residence in the 15000 block of Connie Street. It is a 2004 Mercury Monterey, bronze in color and has a broken reverse light on …

Elected officials in a conservative Michigan county who gave themselves bonuses of $65,000 with federal COVID-19 relief aid said they will return the money following days of criticism. Shiawassee County commissioners acted after the prosecutor said the payments were illegal, The Argus-Press reported. The Michigan Constitution bars additional compensation for elected officials “after services had already been rendered,” prosecutor Scott Koerner said Friday. …

Members of the Constantine Village Council have approved an engineering service agreement for its proposed waste-treatment plant. Company officials from engineers Fleis & VandenBrink said the village’s new sewer plant is expected to be in operation by January 2024. Engineer Jeff Pugh said engineering and legal expenses for the new plant could cost up to $1 million in the next …

Josh LaFluer was appointed Monday to serve as a trustee on the Constantine Village Council. LaFluer fills a vacancy left by the June resignation of Joe Faulkner. LaFluer previously served as a trustee and did not seek re-election when his term ended in November 2020. Village manager Mark Honeysett said in the general law village act, there is no prescribed …

The Three Rivers Police Department has provided an update regarding a wheelchair-versus-SUV fatal collision. The victim has been identified as 49-year-old Three Rivers resident Tony Hoyt. Hoyt was in a wheelchair in an area along Millard Street, where his wheelchair was struck by a sport-utility vehicle Monday evening around 6:30 p.m. Hoyt was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Health …

A Sturgis man died following a collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup in Florence Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to an area on Lutz Road near Dickinson Road in Florence Township. Investigators said a Ford F150 was being driven southbound on Lutz Road before attempting to make a turn at Dickinson Road. …