News

A whiff of her old blanket was enough for Lola: The black Lab was back in her owners’ arms three years after the Michigan dog disappeared on a trip to suburban Chicago. “I feel like I’m in a dream right now,” Debra Mejeur said Saturday when she and her husband, Steve, were reunited with Lola at DuPage County Animal Services. …

A 2-year-old child was run over by a family member’s car last week in Branch County’s California Township. State police investigators said troopers responded around 3 p.m. Friday to a call of a child who had endured non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators said an adult moved their vehicle forward and they were unable to see the small child, who had tripped and …

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer announced the district will stick with virtual-learning format through the end of the calendar year. According to a letter posted on the district’s website, Lemmer said Centreville students were originally scheduled to return for in-person learning Wednesday. The district has been conducting classes remotely since Nov. 2. Lemmer said the decision to postpone a …

St. Joseph County’s 2021 fiscal-year budget was approved Tuesday by county commissioners. The $17.5 million budget reflects a decrease of more than $500,000 from the 2020 budget, which was nearly $18.1 million. County finance director Angie Steinman said the most significant source of revenue for the general fund is property taxes. In 2021, property taxes are expected to provide $9.7 …

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services officials announced the agency now owns its emergency shelter, Hillmann House. Since launching the emergency shelter in 1986, DASAS leased the building from the First Presbyterian Church of Three Rivers for a nominal fee of $1 per year. Executive director Krista DeBoer said the church’s act of generosity empowers DASAS to take ownership of its …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a catalytic converter larceny. The item was stolen off of a bus parked in the 17000 block of South River Road in Lockport Township. The theft is believed to have occurred between Nov. 15 and 29, authorities said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that her administration may extend portions of a three-week partial shutdown of schools and businesses next week because of the “sheer volume” of coronavirus cases in Michigan. The Democratic governor said no decision had been made, but that hospitals can’t be overrun with COVID-19 patients. Although the infection curve has leveled off, it is a …

St. Joseph County officials formally said goodbye and good luck to their soon-to-be-retired finance director. A resolution honoring Judie Ratering was read and subsequently approved by the five-member board of commissioners during their meeting Tuesday. Read by commissioner Ken Malone, the resolution acknowledged Ratering’s nine years as finance director and 11 years previously as a treasurer’s department employee. Board chairman …

Members of the Sturgis American Legion Post 73 took time over Thanksgiving to assemble meals for the Sturgis community. Legion volunteers put together and handed out almost 100 single-serving Thanksgiving meals that included turkey, potatoes, gravy, a vegetable and stuffing. Members spent Tuesday through Thursday shopping, cooking, carving and serving. Legion members who assisted were Harold Melvin, Tom Clewley, Jim …

St. Joseph County commissioners this week approved several nominations and appointments to various boards and commissions in advance of new terms starting in 2021. They are: *Animal Control Advisory Board: Lori Lammon, Suzanne Lee and Dan Czajkowski, three-year terms. *Board of Public Works: Robert Horton, three years. *Building Authority Board: Kathy Humphreys, term expires in August. *Central Dispatch Policy Board: …