News

After taking the week off last week, “Meet Up and Eat Up” resumes countywide, but starts winding down as summer vacation concludes. The free program is for people through 18 years of age and adult special-needs students up to 26 years. Days, times and locations are as follows: Burr Oak Community Schools, 11 a.m. to 12:15 Monday through Friday at …

A kayaker on the Fawn River who was reported missing last week was eventually found. Sheriff Chad Spence said authorities were notified about the situation around 7 o’clock Wednesday night. A multi-agency search effort led to the eventual discovery of the person. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched, involving multiple agencies, including Indiana Department of Natural Resources, White …

Sturgis City Commission members recently approved the 2025 millage rate for general operations and street/sidewalk improvements. The rate for general operations was set at 11.08 mills, which will generate more than $3.4 million a year. Meanwhile, the rate for street/sidewalk improvements was set at 2.9667, amounting to almost $945,000 annually. City clerk Ken Rhodes said the rates are slightly less …

Local, county and state law-enforcement agencies in St. Joseph County and throughout Michigan are taking part in a speed-enforcement initiative through July. The federally funded campaign covers the cost of officers, deputies and troopers conducting patrols specifically targeting motorists driving in excess of the speed limit. Patrols take place at various times and in areas where speed violations are common. …

With its acquisition of Ascension Southwest Michigan now complete, Beacon Health System invites the public to attend one of four community forums. Titled “Report to the Community,” the forums center on the results of Beacon’s community health needs assessment, as well as details of Beacon’s planned next steps. There are four public forums planned, three in Indiana and one in …

Branch County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen farm truck and identifying the individuals responsible for its theft. The incident, which was captured on video surveillance, occurred around 3 a.m. Tuesday at Lazy Acre Farms, in the 800 block of Dutch School Road in Noble Township. The victim told authorities he parked the truck …

Authorities said drugs and excessive speed appear to be factors in a crash involving a golf cart and pickup earlier this week in White Pigeon Township. Michigan State Police troopers responded at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to an area of Lake Road in response to a crash with injuries The golf cart was heading west on Lake Road when it was …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials are continuing to investigate a fatal crash that took place over the weekend in Burr Oak Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said deputies were called at 6:25 a.m. Sunday to the area of Lafayette Road and Big Hill Road in response to a single-vehicle crash. The 20-year-old driver was airlifted from the scene and is …

Beacon Health System has completed its acquisition of Ascension Southwest Michigan. The move expands the reach of Beacon’s locally owned and governed nonprofit health system, and strengthens its ability to serve communities across Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan, Beacon officials said. Beacon now operates four additional hospitals, 35 outpatient clinics and an ambulatory surgery center in Southwest Michigan. The four …

Here’s a look at July’s Fresh Food Distribution events in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, hosts the first distribution of the month. It starts at 4 o’clock July 8. First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis is next, beginning at 4 p.m. July 10. Its address is 1320 S. Lakeview Ave. Constantine High School hosts the …