News

Three people were arrested last week in Sherman Township as part of a drug-conspiracy case. A handgun, a large amount of money and more than five pounds of methamphetamine were confiscated, authorities said. Michigan State Police located and arrested the three people while the suspects were in a suspected drug transaction. The suspects are a Sturgis man in his 50s, …

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said the district on Friday was informed a junior/senior high student was confirmed positive for COVID-19. According to the district’s Facebook page, Lemmer said the student will be isolated and those within close contact will be quarantined for 14 days. Close contact is defined as someone who has been within six feet for 15 …

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a three-vehicle collision last week in Lockport Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 2:20 p.m. Thursday to Buckhorn Road, near Arizona Boulevard, in response to a multi-vehicle crash. Authorities said a GMC pickup, driven by a 25-year-old Three Rivers man, was southbound on Buckhorn Road and the driver apparently did not see a …

State Rep. Aaron Miller joined the Michigan House of Representatives in approving its plan for the state’s Fiscal Year 2021 K-12 budget. Miller, who chairs the House committee overseeing the state’s K-12 budget, said despite the tight budget year the state faces in the wake of COVID-19’s economic impact, there will be no cuts to the education budget. Every program …

The city of Sturgis and Beckett & Raeder will be honored with the 2020 “Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach” for the Sturgis community master plan. When updating the city’s master plan, Sturgis officials embarked on what was called an ambitious and many-pronged public outreach program. The city’s demographics had changed considerably over the past decade and there was consensus …

A Kalamazoo pastor who has criticized police over their handling of protests has lost his seat on a community police review board. Members of the Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeal Board must be “impartial and perform their duties without bias,” City Manager Jim Ritsema said. The Rev. Nathan Dannison’s service won’t be extended when his term ends next week. …

The village of Constantine is one of nearly a dozen Michigan communities to receive a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across 28 states. Constantine plans to use a $13.3 million loan to recommission its water treatment facility. Michigan communities are receiving a combined $32 million in loans and about $3.7 …

Residents of Jeremy Lane in Constantine’s Falcon Cove subdivision submitted a petition requesting the village consider reducing the neighborhood’s speed limit of 25 mph to 15. It also requested the village put an additional speed limit sign on the northbound lane as drivers enter from Timm Road. The request was discussed at Monday’s village council meeting. Village manager Mark Honeysett …

The second of a two-week “Fair Food Drive-Thru” event begins today at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds in Centreville. Stands will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fair board member Kevin Koski said last week’s three-day event was a success and a new group of vendors – seven in all – will be on hand at this week’s offering. …

Vicksburg Village Council members have approved submitting an application that, if accepted, would allow the creation of a so-called Social District for an area of downtown. The measure means alcohol can be taken from a licensed, alcohol-serving business to an outdoor area anywhere within the boundaries of the district. Village attorney Andrew Horne said the specific boundaries of the village’s …