News

Teresa Belote, superintendent of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, received a “highly effective” rating recently from ISD board members. The board also extended Belote’s contract for a year. The rating is based on evaluation at a closed session using the School Advance Administrator Evaluation, board president Liz O’Dell said. She further added that the ISD has appreciated Belote’s self-assessment, …

State police are investigating the theft of a campaign sign. The sign, promoting sheriff candidate Gordon Evilsizor, was stolen between Feb. 16 and this past Saturday. The sign was posted on the south side of U.S. 12, just west of Mann Road in Mottville Township, according to investigators.

A safety concern involving curves on Fawn River Road will be addressed with asphalt work, following action last week by the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Its members approved resolutions authorizing asphalt contracts for Fawn River Road, and Sauger Lake and Nottawa roads. On Fawn River Road, contractors will crush and shape the curves between the west and east …

Members of the White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education appointed Leonard Hinkson to fill a seat vacated by Clayton Bell. Hinkson’s appointment will last 10 months. If he wants to serve the remaining two years of Bell’s term, he will have to be elected in November. He said he wants to support the district’s motto of “every student, every …

No injuries were reported after a semi tractor-trailer caught fire last week on a highway in Branch County. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at 4:40 a.m. Friday to a report of a Fed Ex truck on fire in the northbound lane of Interstate 69 near the weigh station in Ovid Twp. The semi, a double trailer, was transporting nitric …

A Michigan legislator has introduced a bill that, if eventually passed and signed, would prohibit the declawing of cats unless it is for a clear medical or therapeutic reason. The Detroit News reported Friday that House Bill No. 5508 could make Michigan the second state to ban declawing cats, following New York. State Rep. Nate Shannon, a Sterling Heights Democrat, …

Construction is expected to start this spring on a project more than doubling Indiana Michigan Power’s electricity production from solar energy sources. The Fort Wayne-based company has won approval from Indiana officials for the solar farm planned for the Granger area just northeast of South Bend. Completion for the project is expected later this year and is expected to generate …

Charges are being sought against a Battle Creek woman for weapons-related offenses, according to Sheriff Mark Lillywhite. The incident stems from a traffic stop Wednesday on M-60 near Haas Road in Mendon Township, where a deputy located a concealed weapon on the driver along with assorted jewelry in the vehicle. The driver was questioned and admitted to not owning the …

The village of Centreville and Nottawa Township have come to an agreement regarding Old Centreville Cemetery and will sign a contract soon, village staff said Tuesday after a recent council meeting. Under the agreement, the village and township will form the Old Centreville Cemetery committee, which will bear sole responsibility for maintenance and repair of the property at the corner …

Burger King in Sturgis closed Tuesday, five days earlier than its scheduled shut-down date. Robert Snyder, now former general manager of the Sturgis restaurant, said Tria Company of Battle Creek was closing the location and Saturday would be the last day. On Tuesday, however, he said he had been suspended from his duties as general manager and the entire staff …