News

A standoff in Three Rivers ended Tuesday when a 54-year-old Three Rivers man was taken into custody. Nobody was hurt during the nearly four-hour incident that started around 3 p.m. at a residence in the 100 block of Fifth Avenue. The Three Rivers Police Department and St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the origin of the incident centered on a …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission Board recently approved a resolution supporting applications for funding through Michigan Department of Transportation’s local bridge program. Financially, the greatest request is $750,000 toward rehabilitation of Langley Covered Bridge. The project, which would occur in 2023, is estimated to cost $2 million plus expenses for engineering, design and inspection. The road commission will be …

Constantine Public Schools is ready to begin its interviews for superintendent candidates. Interim Superintendent John Jarpe said the six prospective superintendents were chosen from a pool of about 20 applicants. First-round interviews will be done via teleconference. Candidates being interviewed today are Scott Bojanich at 5 o’clock. He is director of instruction for Rockingham County Public Schools in Virginia; James …

Here’s a reminder that Three Rivers Department of Public Services is in the midst of conducting its semi-annual hydrant flushing. DPS Director Amy Roth said flushing is expected to continue through May 29 and will occur 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Due to many variables, Roth said the department is not able to determine the exact date …

Republicans who control the Michigan Senate urged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday to lift her five-week-old ban on nonessential medical and dental procedures, saying the decision to resume should be left to hospitals and health providers. The resolution, while symbolic, is the latest move by GOP lawmakers who are pushing the Democratic governor to ease restrictions she adopted to curb the …

A black bear nicknamed Yogi was struck and killed Tuesday on a highway ramp in the Grand Rapids area, police said. The bear, an adult male weighing roughly 250 pounds, had been spotted for a few years in Walker. He was hit by a large truck on a ramp leading to westbound Interstate 96. “There were no injuries to the …

In compliance with Gov. Whitmer’s extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, Sturgis city facilities will continue to remain closed to the public through at least May 15. Other measures the city has adopted to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and encourage social distancing will continue. Those measures include closure of city hall, Doyle Community Center and …

State Sen. Kim LaSata last week was appointed to the newly formed Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic. The joint-select committee with subpoena power was established by the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 20. In addition to reviewing how the state reacted to the coronavirus, the committee also will explore policy solutions to better prepare for any future emergencies …

An anonymous community member in Mendon helped spearhead a drive that netted the school district 6,000 diapers. The diapers were given in bundles of 100 to 60 families who also were on hand Friday for the school’s weekly food distribution. Superintendent Leasa Griffith said the organizer of the diaper drive did not want to be identified but was instrumental in …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she will allow commercial and residential construction to restart in Michigan within a week or two and is taking a “hard look” at whether to let industrial sectors like manufacturing reopen in the next phase of loosening her stay-at-home restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic governor also said she will ask the Republican-led Legislature …