News

Zac Weckel has been named information and referral specialist for Disability Network of Southwest Michigan. Weckel said he has the important goal of reaching as many people as possible in order to serve individuals with disabilities and their families. He said the agency’s services include information and referral, independent living, transitions, peer support, and education and advocacy. It serves people with …

Justin Wickey, second ward commissioner for the city of Sturgis, plans to step down from his seat in October. Wickey, a local pastor, is increasingly dedicating his time to a church project in Coldwater, he said. At the conclusion of a recent Sturgis City Commission meeting, Wickey said he has loved serving as a city commission member and will miss …

A Sturgis woman was injured after she was involved in a two-vehicle collision last week in Sturgis Township. Sheriff’s deputies were called shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday to the intersection of M-66 and Bogen Road. Investigators said an SUV driven by 53-year-old Nannette Schroeder struck the rear of a truck driven by Daniel Haney, 26, of LaGrange. Authorities said Haney’s …

Last weekend’s Art on the Green at Island Hills Golf Club was postponed due to inclement weather Saturday. Event organizer Shireen Cline said a forecast calling for strong storms warranted the delay. Cline said she had more than a dozen vendors lined up for what would have been the 9th Art on the Green and hopes all will return. A …

May’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one percent from April. 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 rose from 4.6 percent in April to 5.6 percent in May. The rate was 18.8 percent a year earlier, as May 2020 marked …

The Sturgis fireworks presentation originally scheduled to take place over the weekend has been moved to August. Sturgis City Commission members made the decision a few days before what would have been the city’s fireworks display Saturday. What proved to be a correct prediction of extreme weather Saturday prompted municipal officials to postpone the presentation. The fireworks display will now …

Eight cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant, four in Branch County and four in St. Joseph County, have been confirmed to the community health agency. Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, told the board last week there is some tie-in. The four cases in St. Joseph County live in the same household, Burns said, explaining the original …

A fundraising effort is underway to purchase automated CPR machines for all EMS departments in St. Joseph County. Spearheaded by Jeff Brazo, a member of the Burr Oak Community Fire and Rescue Board, the fundraiser goal is $200,000 by Sept. 1. Brazo said automatic CPR machines can aid responders in performing consistent and effective CPR with fewer staff on site …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Board of Health has approved the selection of Karen Luparello as their next medical director. Lauren Vogel will be stepping down from the position effective September 30. Luparello is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in pediatrics and is affiliated with Hillsdale Hospital. She received her medical degree from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and has …

The St. Joseph County Human Resources Commission has released an updated list of “free stores” in the area. There are five locations in and around St. Joseph County. In Athens, the Pass It Forward Shop is on Factoryville Road, though it is closed for the summer. Meanwhile, in St. Joseph County, the Centreville Free Store – Building Hope – is …