News

Michigan State Police, county and local agencies have been receiving calls from citizens related to unemployment fraud. According to state police officials, many businesses are receiving unemployment claims for employees who are not seeking unemployment benefits. A police report is not required for this type of claim. The employee may report the fraud through the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency website …

Four people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week in White Pigeon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called Wednesday to a residence in the 68000 block of Edgewater Beach Road. A citizen’s tip reported suspected narcotics activity taking place at the residence. Deputies arrived and observed subjects allegedly using narcotics. The residence was secured and deputies subsequently obtained …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that barbershops and other personal-care businesses can reopen across Michigan on June 15, while those businesses and places like gyms and movie theaters that were shut down for months to curb the coronavirus can restart in northern Michigan next week. Also, the state health department for the first time began reporting probable COVID-19 cases and deaths, not …

St. Joseph County Emergency Services Director Erin Goff said the agency is transitioning from “very active” to more of a supportive role. Goff provided the update during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In addition, Goff noted that the agency has fielded an extraordinary number of requests for personal protective equipment. The requests have come from daycare centers, …

Centreville Downtown Development Authority has committed $5,000 toward a gift-card promotion that saw great success in Sturgis and Three Rivers last month. DDA officials announced plans to match a $25 gift certificate purchased to a non- franchise, non-chain retail business in the DDA district. Pattie Bender, program manager for Centreville DDA, said the promotion will provide a financial boost when …

Deadlines are approaching for people who lost their health insurance due to layoffs, reduced hours or a change in income during the COVID-19 pandemic, to take advantage of low- or no-cost health care options available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Consumers in these situations must sign up for health insurance within 60 days, which is coming soon for people who were impacted …

Westside Landfill is re-opening its recycling center this weekend. Waste Management’s Eric Shafer said the Roberts Road facility will be open 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and remain open every Saturday to accept electronics, residential paper, plastics and glass, lead and batteries, propane tanks and tires. Electronics include computers and computer equipment, printers, wires and cords, monitors, stereo equipment, game …

Following guidance from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order, the city of Sturgis is reopening all park equipment effective immediately. Use of the equipment is still subject to social-distancing guidelines. To maintain proper social distancing, patrons should keep a minimum of six feet from non-family members.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently recognized 31 farms for implementing appropriate pollution prevention practices. The agency’s Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program assists farmers to comply with state and federal environmental regulations, and with Right to Farm practices. Technical assistance was provided by local Conservation Districts. Among area farms, those receiving acknowledgment were: Brossman’s Farm of Vandalia …

With the goal of attaining accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Glen Oaks Community College has revised its associate of applied science in nursing program to align with the requirements of Michigan Board of Nursing. Effective with the fall 2020 semester, Glen Oaks will launch new nursing program requirements to prepare students to test for the NCLEX- RN …