News

Saturday’s Centreville Downtown Development Authority stimulus gift certificate program was declared a success, as all of the gift certificates sold out in 35 minutes. DDA program manager Pattie Bender said 280 $25 gift certificates were purchased and matched by an additional $25 thanks to financial support from the Centreville DDA, Covered Bridge Days Committee and St. Joseph County United Way. …

Indiana Michigan Power will conduct aerial inspections of its high-voltage lines from a helicopter beginning today. The inspections will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and help maintain the reliability of the electric transmission system, company officials said. The flights are scheduled to inspect transmission lines in I&M’s Indiana service territory, which includes Southwest Michigan, and will be conducted …

An update on the fiscal health of St. Joseph County was provided during Wednesday’s board of commissioners executive committee meeting, and finance director Angie Steinman provided a small dose of good news. She said the county’s 2020 budget, approved in December, would require a $414,000 use of fund balance based on projections. She explained, however, that through various money-saving measures, …

The Three Rivers and Sturgis Area chambers of commerce have invited candidates for local races to participate in video-recorded candidate interviews. Chamber officials said the purpose is to educate voters on who the candidates are and what issues they support. All candidates were invited and videos for those who participated are available online. The web address is https://trchamber.com

John McDonough’s term as St. Joseph County prosecutor is in the hands of voters, not the county commission. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners took up the subject of a letter co-authored earlier this month by State Rep. Aaron Miller and Colon Township’s Tadd Davis. They urged commissioners to remove McDonough from office for a variety of alleged infractions. …

A Dowagic woman was sentenced to prison for her role in a fire set at a Three Rivers business six years ago. Fawn Mott, 35, was sentenced Monday by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Stutesman ordered Mott to serve between 30 months and 10 years in prison, with 603 days credit for time already served, for her …

Three Rivers Community Schools officials decided this week to cancel the high school’s graduation ceremony. Principal Carrie Balk said the district’s administrative team met Tuesday, and decided in the best interest and safety of graduates and their family members, the Aug. 6 ceremony will not take place. Three Rivers High School had already twice postponed its graduation ceremony, which was …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging has issued a media release, stating it remains open but on a limited basis. Lobbies at the Sturgis and Three Rivers centers are open, and seniors are welcome to stop in and purchase restaurant tickets, become a member, borrow from its Medical Loan Closet or conduct any other business that can be handled …

Troopers from Michigan State Police are investigating the theft of a construction trailer from a location in White Pigeon Township. Investigators said the incident occurred during overnight hours between Sunday and Monday from the 68000 block of Klinger Lake Road. The trailer is 16 feet in length, dark blue in color and has the words “Smoll’s Construction” on both sides.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was unreceptive Tuesday to Republican-passed legislation that would require public schools to offer in-person instruction to students in kindergarten through fifth grade amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic governor’s comments came after several districts announced they would start the academic year solely with distance learning regardless of whether Whitmer moves the rest of Michigan into phase five …