News

Fire destroyed a vacant home last week in Sturgis, and two other fires in the city occurred over the weekend. The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched just before 11 p.m. Friday to 223 Susan St., and arrived at the scene to find the home fully engulfed. The structure quickly began to collapse. Firefighters were able to stop flames from spreading …

This week’s Centreville Downtown Development Authority’s stimulus program was declared a success. A line of cars was waiting at Southern Michigan Bank & Trust’s Centreville branch as it opened for business Monday morning. As a component of the program, the village’s DDA committed $5,000 to support non-franchise, non-chain retail businesses within its district. Four restaurants and two hair salons chose …

Two men from Three Rivers were arrested following a pursuit that ended in Park Township Monday morning. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called around 11 a.m. to the area of Harrison Road, near Crampton Road in Mottville Township, in an effort to locate a stolen truck from Elkhart County. In the meantime, the vehicle was located by detectives from …

A Vandalia man was injured in a single-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 a.m. Friday to Calvin Center Road, near Williamsville Street, in response to a car off the roadway. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a vehicle driven by Tyrone Muscat, 66, had struck a telephone pole. Muscat …

A St. Joseph County dam is rated in poor condition, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy. The state agency said the Portage Plant Dam in Three Rivers is one of five in the state considered “high hazard” and in poor condition as deemed by the state. The Portage Plant Dam, which once generated electricity, creates …

A Constantine man and Sturgis woman were injured after being thrown from the motorcycle on which they were riding over the weekend in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday to an area on Mason Road, just east of Calvin Center. Authorities said a motorcycle driven by 27-year-old Adrain Black of …

Sheriff’s deputies responded last week to a report of malicious destruction of property in the village of Burr Oak. The incident occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday in the 200 block of Clinton Street. Investigators said windows to a vehicle parked outside a business were damaged.

The first of a two-day coronavirus testing drew in excess of 200 people Saturday to Sturgis. Rebecca Burns, health officer for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, helped organize the event. She said she would like to see more people participate, especially from the west side of the county. Testing was offered to Michigan residents age 18 and up. Burns …

Michigan Department of Transportation has provided a weekly update on its work related to the U.S. 131 redevelopment project. MDOT said Stage 5 traffic pattern continues, with all traffic using a single lane in the southbound side of the highway. Some utility relocation through the length of the project will continue this week. Meanwhile, West Michigan Avenue paving is complete …

A teen from the community of Jones was injured last week in a single-vehicle accident in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were dispatched shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to a location on U.S. 12, just east of South River Road. Emergency personnel found that a vehicle driven by Justin Rose, 17, had left the roadway and …