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Here’s a reminder that Covered Bridge Healthcare is offering free flu shots at its Centreville office, 658 E. Main St. The agency said drop-ins are welcome but an advance phone call would be preferred. No insurance is required and for people who do have insurance, it will not be billed. Covered Bridge Healthcare can be reached at 467-3228.

Bars and restaurants lost a challenge Wednesday to Michigan’s ban on indoor dining and immediately warned about business failures and deep job losses if the restriction linked to the coronavirus is extended past next week. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney turned down a request for an injunction with seven days left in the three-week ban. It was ordered in mid-November …

President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer urged Michigan Republican activists on Wednesday to pressure, even threaten, the GOP-controlled Legislature to “step up” and award the state’s 16 electoral votes to Trump despite Democrat Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory. Rudy Giuliani made baseless claims of “massive fraud, all over the country,” before testifying to a Republican-led legislative committee. Just a day before, Attorney …

Authorities are looking for someone who boldly climbed to the top of a Mackinac Bridge tower, took pictures and later posted them on social media. The incident apparently occurred in early November. Alarms were triggered hours apart, but no one was caught, the Mackinac Bridge Authority said Wednesday. The agency’s executive secretary, Kim Nowack, called it “inexcusably reckless.” “It is …

St. Joseph County United Way recently presented $18,000 to the local Children’s Trauma Assessment Group. The donation will help CTAG with its mission of assisting children in foster care and in transition with trauma. Kelly Hostelter, United Way executive director, said an anonymous donor contributed $10,000. Meanwhile, a Mendon donor has contributed funds to help Mendon-area children, translating to $2,000 …

Recent promotions of Sturgis Public Safety Director Ryan Banaszak and deputy director of public safety Andrew Strudwick were acknowledged last week through a pinning ceremony at the Sturgis City Commission meeting. The wives of Banaszak and Strudwick pinned the badges to their spouse’s dress uniforms. City manager Mike Hughes said Sturgis is fortunate to have Banaszak and Strudwick as leaders …

A man involved in a Nov. 10 hours-long standoff faces felony charges, following arraignment in St. Joseph County District Court. William Michael Wright, 35, was charged with first-degree home invasion, according to jail records, as well as receiving and concealing stolen property. Wright entered a burned-out house on Findley Road near M-66 at 11:30 a.m. Police were notified and, after …

The city of Sturgis is offering a North Pole Express mailbox through Dec. 16 for children to deliver Christmas lists to Santa. The arrangement was created after the city’s DDA had to cancel this year’s Christmas in the City due to COVID- 19 gathering restrictions. The mailbox is located in front of the Sturgis police and fire station on North …

A top Michigan health official said Tuesday she was cautiously optimistic that more residents took steps to combat the surging coronavirus last month, citing declining case rates, but warned that the spread remains significant and the effect of Thanksgiving will not be known for two to three weeks. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive and an adviser to Gov. …

A Michigan couple who was married for nearly 50 years died seconds apart from the coronavirus. The couple died Nov. 24 in Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson. Leslie and Patricia McWaters spent a week at the hospital after getting sick with COVID-19. “The time on both of their death certificates is 4:23 p.m., because (the difference) was too close …