News

Sturgis firefighters were dispatched shortly after 4:30 a.m. Thursday to a residential blaze in the 500 block of Mechanic Street. According to a department media release, first-arriving crews noticed a fully-involved garage fire that had extended to the home as well as to a residence west of the property. Damage was considerable, authorities said. The garage was completely engulfed, a …

Monday’s strong winds took their toll on county services in St. Joseph County this week. Erin Goff, from the county’s administrator’s office, said loss of power forced a number of county agencies to close Tuesday and Wednesday. In light of the power outage that struck Centreville late Monday, non-emergency county buildings in the village were closed for the day Tuesday. …

White Pigeon Township Library invites the public to participate in a new program offered Monday mornings starting next week. Director Perri Saunders said the popular game Mahjong will be taught starting at 9:30 a.m. every Monday through the summer. Overseen by Suzi Puckett, demonstrations will center on how to play the game in its American and Chinese versions. Saunders suggested …

A 39-year-old Coldwater man was arrested earlier this week on several charges related to drugs and failure to comply. Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship said deputies attempted to stop the man shortly before 10 p.m. Monday on Fiske Road, near Newton Road, in Coldwater Township. Authorities said the man was being pulled over for a license-plate violation. However, the suspect …

As many as 6,000 residences and businesses in St. Joseph County lost power as a result of a wind storm Monday afternoon and evening. Winds were clocked in excess of 60 miles in various locations around the county, according to emergency management officials. Consumer’s Energy reported more than 4,000 customers lost power Monday afternoon, while Indiana-Michigan Power said nearly 2,000 …

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation is transitioning to a county-wide foundation and board of trustees, now serving all of St. Joseph County. The move marks an important step in the foundation’s continued growth, and reflects its expanding role in county-wide philanthropy and community leadership, according to Erin Melchi-Baker, board chair. SACF has experienced significant growth over recent years, increasing from …

Waste Management’s second quarterly Styrofoam recycling collection of 2026 is coming up next week. The collection is offered 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 9 at Westside Landfill Recycling Center, 60050 Roberts Road, Three Rivers. The recycling station is on the east side of the landfill. There is no charge and acceptable items include dinnerware, take-out containers, meat and fish trays, …

A major draw to the region kicks off its 2026 season next week. The Shipshewana Flea Market, which claims to be the Midwest’s largest flea market, opens its doors Tuesday. Officials said the attraction features an open-air market featuring 700 booths, a farmers market, a plants and garden section, and a large quantity of food vendors over a 40-acre property. …

St. Joseph County Bar Association has announced the winner of its annual “Liberty Bell” award. The Centreville-based association has selected Tabitha Wedge, 3B District Court administrator/magistrate, as its 2026 recipient. Wedge follow’s last year’s Liberty Bell Award winners, WLKM radio of Three Rivers and WMSH radio of Sturgis. Wedge has served St. Joseph County Courts for nearly 40 years, starting …

Officials from Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport gathered Monday to break ground on its Runway 17-35 Extension project. AZO director Craig Williams said the project is a milestone in the airport’s long-term infrastructure and safety-enhancement efforts. The project will extend the runway 450 feet to the south, providing pilots with additional operational distance and improving overall safety margins. In addition …