News

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s husband urged a business to get his boat in the water in time for Memorial Day weekend, according to social media posts, while she was publicly telling cooped-up residents to resist flocking to popular vacation areas during the coronavirus pandemic. Personal Facebook posts from NorthShore Dock owner Tad Dowker are no longer available. But The Detroit …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is looking toward returning to normal service by the end of June or early July, executive director Tim Stoll told COA board members Wednesday at their meeting. In addition, the agency is hoping to return to five-day-a-week delivery by mid-June, Stoll added. Daily, weekday service will be done regardless of whether the governor’s executive …

Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency has expanded the number of communities eligible for the “Social Equity Program” from 41 to 184. The program allows those who resided in the areas for five of the past 10 years to obtain discounts when obtaining adult-use marijuana licenses. These now include Sturgis, Sturgis Township, Three Rivers and White Pigeon Township. The municipality or township …

Pathfinder Educational Center will not hold a traditional graduation this year, although the hope is to reschedule for fall. Teresa Belote, superintendent at St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, informed the ISD board of the decision last week. Each week, Pathfinder’s Facebook page highlights one senior, featuring his or her photos, plans and favorite things. An address is provided to …

Camp Fort Hill’s day camp for 2020 has been canceled due to restrictions related to COVID- 19. The decision to cancel day camp was made last week by the Camp Fort Hill board of directors, with guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. A statement addressing the community …

White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education last week approved a quote for 432 classroom Chromebook devices, at a cost of about $126,000. Money for the purchase will come from bond funds. Associate superintendent Carrie Erlandson said the Chromebooks will be especially useful if the district needs to continue distance learning in the fall. The district already has 150 Chromebooks …

Here’s the weekly update from Michigan Department of Transportation regarding its redevelopment of U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. Stage 5 traffic pattern remains in place and all traffic will continue to travel on the southbound lane. Construction crews plan to continue gravel grading, and work on new curb and gutter on the north side of Michigan Avenue. All Michigan Avenue …

Construction of a roundabout at Farrand and Colon roads in Colon Township is to begin next week. St. Joseph County Road Commission assistant manager Garrett Myland detailed the plan during a work session Wednesday. The goal is to complete the project no later than the first week of August, he noted. The single-lane roundabout will be a 130-foot inscribed diameter. …

Sheriff’s deputies were called last week to investigate separate incidents of destruction of property. Deputies responded Tuesday to the 58000 block of U.S. 131 in Fabius Township, where forced entry into a barn was attempted. The building sustained minor damage. The second incident was an unrelated property-damage complaint in the 300 block of South Second Street in the village of …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order by slightly more than two additional weeks, through June 12, while keeping theaters, gyms and other places of public accommodation closed until at least then. A day after a judge ruled in her favor in a lawsuit filed by the Republican-led Legislature, the Democratic governor also extended her coronavirus emergency declaration through June 19. Both …