News

A countywide millage request sought by the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District was approved overwhelmingly Tuesday. With a vote count of 3,889 in favor and 2,651 opposed, the ISD was given approval to establish an area career and technical-education program. The 1-mill, 10-year request will generate about $2.3 million annually and benefit the county’s nine school districts.

Mendon Township voters on Tuesday approved a ballot question asking whether they support an ordinance to allow solar panel development. By a margin of just 12 votes, 331 in favor to 319 opposed, residents sided with the township board and the language of an ordinance it approved back in April. In essence, the language would allow Geronimo Energy of Minnesota …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and three incumbent city commission members will return for an additional two years. Based on results from Tuesday’s election, Lowry, at-large commissioner Janell Hart, Third District commissioner Chris Abel and First District commissioner Pat Dane all were re-elected. Dane, who earned 622 votes, easily fended off a challenge from write-in candidate Geoffrey Clark. Clark drew …

Nottawa Township officials wish to thank its residents for approving a request in support of a three-quarters-of-a-mill increase. The six-year millage will generate about $95,000 in its first year and be used specifically for fire and emergency services. The money will be earmarked for administration, operations, equipment and provision of ambulance services. The request passed, 302 in favor to 174 …

Legislation advancing in Michigan would lift the state’s ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula. The state House approved the bill 56-49 Tuesday. It goes to the Senate for future consideration. The ban was initially instituted by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in 2018. The bill sponsor, Republican Rep. Michelle Hoitenga …

Police have rescued a man from a trash truck in Kalamazoo after he fell asleep in a dumpster. The man screamed for help after the dumpster was emptied into the truck Monday. Fortunately the trash inside the truck hadn’t been compressed when the driver heard pleas for help before dawn. The man could have been killed. Capt. Matt Huber says …

The Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant later this week will be dye-testing portions of its Wastewater Treatment Plant with a non-toxic tracer dye. The plan is to be in effect Wednesday. The tracer dye to be used in the process has been approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy. The dye is safe for human health …

A Three Rivers man was involved in a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 5:45 a.m. Friday to the intersection of U.S. 12 and Baldwin Prairie Road. Investigators said Travis Brown, 21, from Three Rivers, was driving west on U.S. 12 when his vehicle crossed the centerline. It struck …

Open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces began last week, making now a great time for consumers to examine deals found on the marketplace, save money and better meet their health care needs, according to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Department. Consumers have until December 15 to enroll. Rebecca Burns, health officer at the tri-county health department, said the vast …

Three of St. Joseph County’s varsity football teams that qualified for the post-season tournament bowed out over the weekend. In action Friday, Mendon lost, 38-to-0, to defending Division 8 champ Reading. White Pigeon was shutout, as well, falling to Cassopolis, 41-to-0. Meanwhile, in Division 7, Centreville came up short in a loss to Cassopolis, 7-to-3. On a brighter note, Constantine …