News

State police troopers are investigating the theft of a minibike from a residence in Branch County. According to a department media release, the incident took place between 9 p.m. June 30 and 10:30 a.m. July 1 in the 600 block of Girard Road in Girard Township. The vehicle is a black “Monster Moto” brand minibike.

The Sherman Township Board last month approved an ordinance allowing sport-shooting ranges as a special-exception use in the agricultural and rural preservation zoning classifications. Passage of the ordinance gives potential operators of such ranges the opportunity to go to the township planning commission and request a special land-use permit. Requirements listed in the ordinance include specifics such as the site …

Sturgis Public Schools governance team recently completed an evaluation of Superintendent Art Ebert. The board assessed Ebert in 11 areas, including student growth, mission and vision, goals and expectations, processes and procedures, internal and external stakeholder relations, and communications and media relations. The board rated Ebert effective in five of the focus areas and highly effective in six of the focus areas, …

Nobody was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash that occurred last month in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11:05 a.m. June 20 to the intersection of Calvin Hill Street and Calvin Center Road. Emergency personnel were told the driver of a car heading west on Calvin Hill Street failed to stop at the …

Members of the Centreville Village Council are considering changing the alley behind downtown buildings to one-way traffic. Trustee Gary McClain said he wants to see a one-way street, west to east, between Dean Street – near the Department of Public Works garage – and Nottawa Street. Village President Keith Shears said he has been told the police department prefers the alley as …

Kevin Kroehler, case manager with the Salvation Army of Sturgis, wishes to remind the public that the Salvation Army offers vouchers for clients in need of clothing. Clients may receive six items per person in household, and may get a voucher every six months. Clients will need to call the Sturgis office in order to schedule an appointment. Its number …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants make sure everyone safely enjoys a fireworks show this holiday weekend. The agency issued a media release in which a number of safety reminders are referenced. Common sense should be the rule of thumb. Smart and safe Fourth of July celebrations include reminders that kids should never play with fireworks, only legal fireworks …

The reconstruction of U.S. 131 in and around Three Rivers is about a week behind schedule due to the volume of rain last month. Still, Michigan Department of Transportation officials are confident they will be able to make up the delay and finish the calendar year on schedule. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the two-year, $20 million undertaking is no different …

The third of six river cleanup events this summer was declared a success by its organizers. Staged Saturday on the Prairie River, the cleanup centered on a 3.8-mile stretch from Centreville Canoe Park to Hoshel Road. Event coordinator Shaun Grace said a team of 18 volunteers and four staff members took part. Their combined efforts netted a lawn chair, metal …

May’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was half a percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.2 percent May unemployment rate marked an increase from April’s 3.7 percent. St. Joseph County’s rate was slightly greater than the state unemployment average, which was 3.9 percent …