News

Officials from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department wish to remind the public about a phone scam local residents have recently reported. Deputies said scammers create a fake name and phone number that make it appear they are calling from a local police department, sheriff’s office or other law-enforcement agency. The scammer will indicate to the person answering there is …

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer has announced the high school’s plans for graduation. During Monday’s board of education meeting, Lemmer said the ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. May 27 on the stage at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. Lemmer said the grandstand and stage areas are covered, providing graduates and spectators protection in the event of inclement …

A Bronson teenager was slightly injured in a single-vehicle crash last weekend in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Cass County sheriff’s officials said deputies were called at 2:15 p.m. Saturday to an area on O’Keefe Road, just past Dutch Settlement Road, in response to a car that had crashed into a tree. Investigators said 19-year-old Lukas Whitaker of Dowagiac was driving …

Today marks the third day of a two-week pause of in-person learning and athletics for Three Rivers High School. Superintendent Ron Moag said the district’s mandate to revert to distance learning was made by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. A surge in COVID-19 cases at the high school warranted the measure. The district’s middle school and its four elementary …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County, and one of its neighboring counties, was lower than the rate in February. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. St. Joseph County’s 4.9 percent unemployment rate for March was down from 5.2 percent the previous month. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a …

Mendon Community Schools was recently acknowledged for donating a bus that was taken out of commission and donated for hands-on training. Members of the Mendon Fire Department sent a letter of thanks to superintendent Leasa Griffith for the opportunity to carry out an extrication exercise involving more than 30 firefighters from five area departments. The event took place April 17 …

Centreville Public Schools plans to buy two new buses as a component of the district’s 2013 voter-approved millage request. Board members on Monday agreed to buy a pair of 2019 Cummins diesel-engine buses from Midwest Transit. Board president Jeff Troyer said the vehicles were subject to a bid process and total cost was $131,286 for the pair. The district will …

Constantine village officials are in the preliminary stages of planning the municipality’s Fourth of July celebration. Addressing the matter during last week’s village council meeting, village manager Mark Honeysett said considering the holiday this year falls on a Sunday, he advised the start of the Independence Day parade move from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate worship services earlier …

Mendon Community Schools Superintendent Leasa Griffith said Mendon High School and the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Department are teaming up to offer first-dose vaccinations Tuesday at the high school. The focus will be Mendon High School students ages 16 years of age and older, Griffith said. Information was sent home to parents last week and is available online through the …

Officials from Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy announced last week they are able to resume Wednesday Warrior Workdays. Volunteers have been advised to incorporate precautions such as practicing social distancing, wearing masks, driving separately to workday locations and using contact tracing. According to agency official Miko Dargitz, the new safety protocol system has been running smoothly. In addition to Wednesday Warriors, …