News

The 27th annual Doyle/ Exchange Club Community Service Awards were approved recently. Grant awards included $2,000 to Sturgis Neighborhood Program for its “Lunch and Learn” initiative. Meanwhile, Hope United also received $2,000, which the agency plans to put toward the Amanda House project, a Three Rivers recovery home for women in St. Joseph County. The awards are made possible by …

State police troopers are investigating a hit-and-run situation that took place earlier this week in Flowerfield Township. The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. Monday at the intersection of M-216 and Bent Road. Troopers said a silver Dodge Dakota extended cab was northbound on Bent Road when the driver pulled into the path of a motorcycle heading east on M-216. The …

A Nottawa Township resident was recognized this week for his continued support of agriculture and education in St. Joseph County. A ceremony to honor Fred Henningson and note the 25th anniversary of the St. Joseph County CTE Student Land Lab took place at the Findley Road property Tuesday. For the past two-and-a-half decades, Henningson has allowed students in the county’s …

A motorcyclist was forced to lay down his bike in order to avoid rear-ending a car in stopped traffic. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, 55-year-old Philip Velie was driving east on U.S. 12 when he laid down his motorcycle due to backed-up traffic at Klinger Lake Road. Velie ended up pushing his bike into the oncoming lane …

A sinking-fund request sought by Colon Community Schools was approved Tuesday. The unofficial final vote stood at 276 in favor to 200 opposed, according to results from all four precincts – Colon, Leonidas, Sherwood and Matteson townships. Colon Township’s numbers also included registered voters within the district’s boundaries in Nottawa and Burr Oak townships. Superintendent Penny Brockway said the sinking …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday made exceptions to their hiring freeze and approved a trio of positions to be filled. A corrections officer for the sheriff’s department, a deputy district court clerk for its criminal division and a Juvenile Day Treatment supervisor were all granted approval to be filled as soon as possible. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the …

Two Vicksburg residents were injured over the weekend after the motorcycle they were riding struck the passenger’s side of a vehicle that had turned left in front of it in Mendon Township. Sheriff’s deputies were called around 10 p.m. Saturday to the intersection of Silver Street and Klines Resort Road. The motorcycle was being driven northbound on Silver Street by …

Saturday’s “Homes For Our Troops” event, a fundraiser staged annually by Park Township residents Jim and Peggy Fassett, set a single-year record for amount of money raised. Jim Fassett said last year’s record of more than $19,000 was easily surpassed and as of late Sunday, the collection for the 2019 fundraiser was more than $22,500. Additional pledges are expected throughout …

State police troopers are investigating the theft of kayaks from a residence in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, four gray-and-white “Pelican Catch 100” kayaks were taken from a yard in the 67000 block of U.S. 131 during the night of July 20. No other information about the incident was made available.

Michigan Department of Transportation officials have released details regarding the weekly construction update on the U.S. 131 improvement in Three Rivers. Stage 2 traffic pattern remains in place, meaning motorists are using portions of the southbound U.S. 131 lane for two-way traffic. That includes two-way traffic at the Rocky River bridge, north of the project. Workers this week plan to …