News

A Michigan woman who was 114 years old has died. Ellen Goodwill was considered to be Michigan’s oldest resident, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported, citing the Gerontology Research Group, which keeps track of supercentenarians who reach 110. Goodwill, who lived at Advantage Living Center in Battle Creek, died Tuesday, according to a friend, Sharon Miller. She celebrated a birthday on Feb. …

Frank J. Kelley, affectionately called the “eternal general” for his 37 years as Michigan’s longest-serving attorney general, has died at age 96, his family said Saturday. Kelley, a Democrat, served from 1961 to 1999, winning statewide election 10 times. He moved to Naples, Florida, in 2020 and died Friday night, spokesman Chris De Witt said. Kelley was state government’s top …

St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch has announced the monthly weather siren tests for 2021 will begin Saturday. Director Dennis Brandenburg said the emergency sirens will be activated simultaneously countywide at 12:05 p.m. Brandenburg explained after the test, every fire department in the county will be surveyed to confirm its members heard the sirens and if the sirens rotated properly. …

The city of Sturgis is offering a Styrofoam recycling collection this weekend. Co-sponsored by Dart Container Corporation, the collection starts at 9 a.m. and concludes at noon Saturday. It will take place at Sturgis Department of Public Services, located on North Centerville Road. Any form of polystyrene foam will be accepted. This includes take-out containers, egg cartons, cups, foam ice …

State police troopers are investigating a motor-vehicle theft that occurred earlier this week in Sturgis Township. According to a department media release, troopers were called Thursday to a trailer park in the 25000 block of U.S. 12 in response to a stolen vehicle. The victim told authorities the theft occurred between 6:20 and 6:40 a.m. The vehicle in question is …

St. Joseph County commissioners approved reappointing three people to the county’s Agriculture Preservation Board. During their board meeting Tuesday, commissioners agreed to reappoint Carolyn Grace, Henry Miller and commissioner Dan Czajkowski. The terms for Grace, who represents the county’s conservation district, and Miller, representing the field of agriculture, are three years each. Czajkowski’s is for one year.

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has announced a limited promotion starting in April. Available to the first 200 participants, the agency’s first raffle starts in April. Chamber officials said a calendar can be purchased for $20. Each day in April, a number will be drawn. Whoever owns the calendar number that matches the drawn number will win the …

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring will move forward with the goal of filling a key position. During their Tuesday meeting, members of the county board of commissioners OK’d Doehring’s request to fill the impending vacancy of head of buildings and grounds for St. Joseph County. Incumbent Tim Hochstetler is planning to retire March 31. Doehring said she explored a …

St. Joseph County commissioner Kathy Pangle said the roof over the atrium area inside the county’s Commission on Aging facility in Three Rivers has suffered major leaks and is need of being replaced. The leaks have been so bad that the atrium area was closed for a period, she said. In addition, Pangle noted, the kitchen area has experienced roof …

St. Joseph County Human Resources Commission is sponsoring a virtual “Lunch and Learn” event later this month. The March 16 event will be the first in a series of one-hour “Lunch and Learn” programs covering a variety of human services geared toward non-profits, service leaders, faith-based organizations and others interested in helping others in need. The topic for the upcoming …