News

The Sturgis Planning Commission recently voted to recommend amendments to zoning ordinances that would permit catering facilities and banquet halls within certain zoning districts. The ordinance would define catering facility as an establishment in which the principal use is the preparation of food and meals on the premises, and where such food and meals are delivered to another location for …

Local talent is included in the 2019 Detroit Free Press all-state football team. Offensive lineman Matthew Hutton from Constantine High School was named to the Division 6 first team. Meanwhile, in Division 7, Schoolcraft High School’s running back Kobe Clark was named to the first team. In Division 8, first-team accolades went to defensive lineman Noah Slaughter, of Mendon High …

Here’s information regarding a New Year’s Eve event in downtown Three Rivers. Tickets are now on sale for “Midnight on Main, Roaring 2020.” The event starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and concludes after the midnight celebration. Tickets, which are $15 each, include themed swag bags, coupons good for use at local businesses and New Year’s Eve party favors. Music …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Department has issued a media release regarding holiday health. It stated that Christmas Day results in more heart-related deaths than any other day of the year. Furthermore, the day after Christmas features the second-largest reports of heart-related deaths. The tri-county agency is offering advice for how not to be a statistic this week. Its tips include …

A Three Rivers man was arrested after he crashed a stolen vehicle in Sturgis and attempted to flee from the scene. Sturgis police said the incident originated at 8:35 a.m. Sunday at a business in the 600 block of West Fawn River Road. Moments later, officers were called to the 100 block of Susan Avenue in response to a single-vehicle …

Michigan State Police troopers responded over the weekend to a structure fire in Union City. According to a department media release, troopers and fire personnel were dispatched to a location near the intersection of Mendon Road and Division Street in response to a single-story dwelling fully engulfed in flames. All occupants of the residence had safely evacuated prior to the …

An Edwardsburg man was injured in a one-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 7 p.m. Friday to Bald Hill Road near Tower Road. Ryan Ward, 26, told authorities he was driving westbound when he lost control of his vehicle and it went off the roadway. The vehicle then …

Michigan State Police graduated its 136th class last week. The group of more than 70 completed a 25-week training at the Lansing-based academy. The training involved firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity, decision, making, first aid, leadership, criminal law, crime-scene processing and precision driving. The recruits also participated in two community-outreach projects. Agency officials …

The Youth Advisory Council of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation is giving back this holiday season through its annual Christmas Service Project. The project benefits the Salvation Army, which provides Christmas gifts for local families in need. Group members recently gathered to shop for this year’s project, which focuses on providing gifts for area teens, considered an age group that …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved three exceptions to its hiring freeze. Tuesday’s votes resulted in authorization to hire an emergency services coordinator, a $75,000-a-year position that will become vacant effective Jan. 31. It was sought by undersheriff Mark Lillywhite. In a separate request, Lillywhite also was granted permission to hire a clerk/typist for the sheriff’s department. …