News

Voters in two St. Joseph County school districts will have the opportunity today to vote on ballot questions. White Pigeon Community Schools will have a millage renewal request before voters, while Sturgis Public Schools is asking for an additional one and three-quarter mills. White Pigeon Superintendent Jon Keyer said the district is seeking one mill for five years and is …

The St. Joseph Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Monday in the 68000 block of Plumb School Road in Fawn River Township. Because the matter is an ongoing investigation, authorities are not releasing additional information.

Two major routes in Cass and Van Buren counties will be partially closed through the end of the month as Michigan Department of Transportation crews work on repaving. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the project started Monday and involves seven miles of M-40 and M-51, including M-40 from Marcellus Highway north to the Cass/Van Buren county line, and on M-51 from …

Here’s an update on the U.S. 131 project that started Monday in Three Rivers. Through the end of the week, northbound and southbound traffic will see single-lane closures and construction will begin on the existing median curb lane islands. These will be removed and replaced with temporary paving. Signal work will begin at M-60 and U.S. 131, while tree removal …

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority has named Tricia Meyer as its new executive director. With three candidates vying for the position, Meyer was deemed the best candidate following an interview conducted with DDA board members Friday. A Colon native, Meyer is currently serving as interim director and will assume the position on a full-time basis May 28. Her salary …

Reid Leaverton is this year’s recipient of the E.J. Shaheen Award, which was presented during Friday’s Glen Oaks Community College commencement. Leaverton teaches classes and oversees the new agricultural equipment technology program at the college. Born and raised in San Diego, Leaverton served as president of his high school’s FFA Chapter. Glen Oaks hired Leaverton in 2017, and in his two short …

Timothy James Walters, 21, of Decatur, was involved in a single-vehicle crash Thursday in Marcellus Township. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. on M-40 near the intersection of Brody Road. Authorities said the vehicle Walters was driving was nearly struck by an oncoming car. The near-collision caused Walters to drive off the roadway, where his vehicle overturned. Walters was …

Three Rivers is bracing for the first of a two-season project that will focus on an overhaul of U.S. 131. Michigan Department of Transportation officials said the work will start Monday. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the 2019 construction includes reconfiguring the southern intersection of U.S. 131 and M-60 to a standard signalized intersection, reconstructing the intersection of U.S. 131 and …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging honored a number of volunteers with an appreciation dinner last week at Sturges-Young Auditorium and Civic Center. COA has about 200 volunteers who contribute time and talent to the organization. Donna Dick of Mendon received an award for her work as a volunteer balance instructor, while Sharon Salisbury of Three Rivers was awarded for her …

The Michigan Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal filed by Lockport Township regarding the contested property on which a multi-field sports complex is being constructed. The court’s one-sentence statement issued Wednesday says: “On order of the court, the application for leave to appeal the Aug. 17, 2018, order of the Court of Appeals is considered, and it is …