News

St. Joseph County has experienced another jump in COVID-19 cases. As of Friday, Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency confirmed 31 new cases, for a cumulative total of 990. The number of deaths remained unchanged at 15. Meanwhile, Constantine Public Schools on Monday moved to a remote-learning setup districtwide, with a return to in-person instruction set for Nov. 9. District officials …

Michigan Rural Water Association recently presented Michelle Thibideau, Centreville’s village clerk and head of the department of public works, with its wastewater operations specialist 2020 award. Since joining the village in 2009, Thibideau took MRWA classes and had private tutoring sessions with its staff to pass, on her first attempt, exams for water and wastewater matters. Thibideau, who is juggling …

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Michigan has been awarded a grant to support its work with area foster care children, Sturgis Area Community Foundation recently announced. CASA was selected for a $5,000 grant from Constantine Area Community Foundation in support of its work with foster care children throughout St. Joseph County. With the help of $20,000 in start-up grants …

Three Rivers Community Schools is providing mobile WiFi internet service at new locations starting today. Offered from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, the mobile WiFi unit will be at Riverside Apartments and Townhomes on Lockport Drive, and in Flowerfield Township at Church and Grand streets. Log-in information will be provided at the site, though any student using …

A 40-year-old man was arrested on a charge of arson following an incident last week in Three Rivers. Sheriff’s deputies were called shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday to a residence in the 16000 block of Lovers Lane in response to a suspicious fire. Investigators found that the suspect was seen pouring gasoline on the driveway and in the garage of …

Six people were approved to the St. Joseph County Remonumentation Peer Review Group. They are: David Mostrom, Ryan Miller, David Gariepy, Dale Kesler, Douglas Mostrom and Terry Woldring. The action was taken during last week’s county commission meeting.

The village of Vicksburg has announced several modifications to its annual Christmas celebration. During last week’s village council meeting, village council members reluctantly agreed to cancel the annual parade and Santa visit. However, a holiday committee has organized several other events, including downtown decorating, a Christmas Card Lane throughout the historic village section of town and the support of neighborhoods …

St. Joseph County’s plan to implement a 35-hour work week for non-union and union hourly employees hit a snag and, for the moment, will remain in a holding pattern. County administrator Teresa Doehring raised the issue during the county commission’s meeting Tuesday. She said the proposal derailed when the county’s largest clerical group – the AFSCME union – did not …

Branch County authorities were called this week to an accident in which a woman from Ohio was injured. Deputies responded around 5 p.m. Monday to the intersection of South Fremont and Copeland roads in California Township. Investigators said Ryan Diveley, 36, of Kokomo, Ind., attempted to stop at the intersection but the weight of the cargo he was hauling on …

St. Joseph County Intermediate School District’s board of education has selected Patricia Keller to fill a vacant seat. Keller, who has more than 30 years of experience in education, was one of two candidates for the appointed position. The interview and subsequent decision happened Monday. Keller was sworn in immediately after being appointed. Keller lives in the Colon Community Schools …