News

A Sturgis man was found guilty Wednesday by a Cass County jury of assault with intent to do bodily harm and felonious assault. Michael Johnson, 42, will be sentenced April 5 by Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman. Johnson was found not guilty on a third count of assault with intent to murder. During the trial, Cass County chief …

The Department of Health and Human Services of St. Joseph County is issuing an appeal to the public for donations to support its annual Easter egg hunt. This year’s event takes place next month and will be hosted by Glen Oaks Community College. Agency representative Jan Reed said donations from the public have historically helped make the event a success …

Officials from Indiana Michigan Power will begin lowering the water level of the headrace canal at the Constantine hydroelectric plant today. The Constantine headrace canal at the hydroelectric plant will be lowered 11-feet to allow I&M to perform routine inspections. The drawdown will not impact water levels of the St. Joseph River. The public may notice an increase in traffic …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St Joseph Community Health Agency is receiving support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in its investigation of a nursing care facility’s water system that tested positive for Legionella bacteria contamination. The case was made public last week. Health officials said there was one confirmed case of Legionellosis associated with the facility, which is not being identified until …

An Ypsilanti woman was injured Sunday morning at 5:45 in a single vehicle crash on M-60 just west of Jones near Timberlane Drive. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Katharine Aris, age 50, was driving a semi-tractor trailer rig eastbound when her vehicle crashed on the south side of the road, spilling approximately 100 gallons of fuel and oil. …

New Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is urging lawmakers to let absentee ballots be counted before Election Day and to make other changes following the passage of a ballot initiative that expanded voting options in Michigan. The Democrat says the number of absentee ballots is expected to increase significantly now that people can vote absentee for any reason. She wants …

Girl’s Basketball: Edwardsburg 56,  Three Rivers 42 Mendon 45,  Decatur 26 Centreville 61,  Constantine 48

A busy intersection in Colon Township will soon become a four-way stop. Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission this week approved a plan to add stop signs on Colon Road at the Farrand Road intersection. Commissioners agreed the measure was necessary in advance of bridge work on M-66, just north of the M-86 intersection that leads east into …

Three people were reappointed this week to St. Joseph County’s Agricultural Preservation Board. County commissioners on Tuesday renewed the three-year terms of Mendon Township resident Larry Rice and Sturgis-area resident John Fair. Commissioner representative Dan Czajkowski of White Pigeon was also reappointed, though his term is for a one-year period. In a separate move, commissioners agreed to name Angie Price, …

Mendon Township Board of Trustees has postponed for at least a month whether to approve a potential ordinance regarding solar panels. The five-member board agreed Tuesday to continue reviewing the proposed ordinance that was recommended by its planning commission last week. The township board concurred it will revisit the issue at its April meeting. If approved, the ordinance could pave …