News

A Branch County man died Tuesday in a single-vehicle accident in Quincy Township, according to Michigan State Police. Troopers were called to North Ray-Quincy Road, in an area north of Wildwood Road, regarding an accident with injuries. Investigators said a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Preston Sarles was traveling northbound on North Ray-Quincy Road when it attempted to pass another vehicle. …

St. Joseph County is expected to begin the process of selling a building it owns in Centreville to an organization that has occupied its space the past four years. County commissioners were told during their executive committee meeting Wednesday that Covered Bridge Healthcare would like to buy the building in which it has operated since July 2016. The 1,980-square-foot building, …

The County Closet free store is now open in Three Rivers. Its hours are 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday through Saturday. The store is open Mondays but only to accept donations. Until further notice, masks are required inside the store, which is located at 901 S. Main St.

Michigan on Wednesday reported its biggest increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in nearly two months, leading Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to say she may be forced to reimpose some restrictions if the upward trajectory holds. Whitmer again pleaded with people to wear face coverings in public. Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, women’s coach Suzy Merchant and University of Michigan …

Officials from St. Joseph County’s largest school district are in the midst of establishing a plan for how to proceed with the 2020-21 academic year. During last week’s board meeting, Sturgis Public School Superintendent Art Ebert said plans are in development and details will be released after those proposals are finalized. Administrators apologized about being unable to provide details, but …

Several traditional and ethnic holidays were celebrated as part of the holiday-themed Palmer Lake Flotilla in Colon. The 80-minute parade on the Fourth of July circled Palmer Lake for hundreds of families who lined the shore to cheer on 23 entrants, the biggest Flotilla in terms of participation, said event organizer Tim Taylor. First place was awarded to Ryan Doherty …

Hours after the Sturgis Police Department released a statement Monday saying it would not respond to complaints about people violating the requirement of facemask use, public safety officials clarified with more details the reason behind their decision. Geoff Smith, director of public safety, said due to the high volume of potential complaints and the complexities of executive orders versus enforcement …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday extended Michigan’s coronavirus emergency declaration through Aug. 11, five months after she first issued it, pointing to an uptick in new cases over the past three weeks. The move, which was expected, allows the Democratic governor to keep in place various orders designed to curb the virus, including certain business closures, limits on gatherings, a mask requirement …

Various items were stolen from a garage last week in Colon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called to the 58000 block of Willow Drive, where an Echo brand leaf blower and a Ryobi power washer were reported stolen. The incident occurred between July 1 and the 11th, authorities said. Meanwhile, deputies responded earlier this week to a breaking-and-entering …

Pastor Carl Litchfield of Burr Oak United Methodist Church said the church’s Free Store has closed. Litchfield said all inventory has been sorted, gathered and taken from the building, and it is unlikely the church will be able to restart the Free Store as a church ministry, Litchfield said. He did add, however, if the church can find leadership from …