News

St. Joseph County commissioners on Wednesday heard the county’s 2020 equalization report, presented remotely by equalization director Josh Simmons during the twice-a-month executive committee meeting. He said this is the first year St. Joseph County has surpassed the $3 billion assessed-value mark. Overall, from the previous year to current, St. Joseph County’s assessed values increased 4.86 percent, which includes personal …

Sturgis police responded at 8:30 p.m. Friday to the 900 block of Progress Street in response to a suspicious man in the vicinity. The man, a 24-year-old Sturgis resident, fled on foot when officers arrived. He was eventually caught and charged with possessing of methamphetamine, stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing, assaulting a police …

Hundreds of flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the coronavirus outbreak. As snow fell, others got out of their vehicles and raised signs, one of which read, “Gov. Whitmer We Are Not Prisoners.” Another said, “Michigander Against Gretchens …

The County Road Association of Michigan recently recognized the St. Joseph County Road Commission with an “IMPRESS” award. Issued during the CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference, IMPRESS recognizes county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration. The county was awarded in the “Operations” category for its combination tar distributor/plow truck usage. Budget constraints made it …

A breaking-and-entering incident took place at a business earlier this month in Centreville. Deputies were called at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Mill Race Storage Units on East Main Street. The incident occurred between 10:30 p.m. April 6 and 3:30 p.m. April 7. Property stolen from the unit includes cameras, two tablets, a laptop, a Nintendo DS gaming system, fishing poles …

Sturgis city commissioners last week accepted the resignation of vice mayor and third precinct city commissioner Mark Dvorak. In a letter to commissioners, Dvorak said circumstances in his personal life resulted in his move to a different home. Dvorak said he did not realize until he went to vote March 10 that his new residence is in the second precinct. …

The St. Joseph County United Way has announced a change to the dates of its second annual “Yards, Barns and Brews” event. Originally slated for May 1 and 2, the event has been rescheduled to July 17 and 18. In addition, the fairgrounds announced it, too, is rescheduling the Countywide Garage Sales event to the same weekend. Attractions will include …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to toughen rather than relax what already was one of the nation’s strictest stay-home orders in response to the coronavirus is hitting opposition in her home state, where Republicans who backed her moves initially are now ratcheting up their criticism. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey took to Facebook to accuse the Democratic governor and vice …

On behalf of Michigan’s Green Industry – the nursery and greenhouse growers, retail garden centers, lawn care, landscape maintenance, design/build, tree care, and irrigation and water management firms – we present this statement on COVID-19. The majority of our businesses are family-owned and many are multi-generational. Our industry is committed to providing their products and services in a way that …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of irrigation wire from a field in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, deputies were called to an area near the intersection of U.S. 131 and Garber Road to investigate the incident. The victim told authorities the larceny took place between 9 p.m. April 8 and 9 a.m. …