News

St. Joseph County United Way and matching local donors recently awarded a special grant to four local schools for the purchase of Nightlocks. Nightlock is a classroom-door-lockdown mechanism that allows a teacher to immediately lock the door from inside the classroom. It is fast, easy and withstands 1,500 pounds of force. On a conventional classroom door, an intruder can break …

Sturgis City commissioners last week approved a draft of a recreation facility agreement with St. Joseph County to partner for development of a disc golf course at Cade Lake Park. The city will be responsible for the material costs for development, and the county will install and construct, then own and operate, the course. The agreement commits the city for …

St. Joseph County’s attempt to shore up its financial state resulted in just one courthouse layoff. Other positions eyed for cuts, however, were changed from full-time to part-time. In addition, another employee whose job was likely to be eliminated resigned and found work elsewhere. County administrator Teresa Doehring said the layoff and reduction in hours were part of an effort …

The eighth consecutive year of the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s River Cleanup will see more than 25 miles of waterways covered this summer. Six events beginning in June and ending in early August will await conservation district employees and what director Carolyn Grace hopes is a strong number of volunteers. The six dates in 2018 begin June 2 over …

Zeta Metzger has been appointed interim Sturgis Township treasurer until the November election. Appointed during a special meeting last month, she fills the seat left vacant by Walt Krzycki, who resigned after serving the board for 20 years. Metzger has worked for the township in many capacities over the last 15 years, starting as an election inspector. Her previous positions include township trustee …

A White Pigeon woman has been charged with possession of counterfeit money. Dayln Perry, 28, is being held on a $35,000 bond following an incident last month in Coldwater. A clerk at Marshall Street Shell called police after Perry allegedly tried to pay with a suspicious $20 bill. Perry left and the clerk held on to the bill. Officers eventually …

A prosecutor says the fatal shooting of a man being sought by a fugitive apprehension team in was justified. Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said in an opinion released Wednesday to the Battle Creek Enquirer that officers “violated no criminal law” in the Jan. 22 shooting death of 36-year-old Joshuah Prough. Gilbert says they “acted in lawful self-defense.” Prough was shot by …

Hundreds of thousands of Michigan drivers will not have to pay outstanding, extra fees assessed for certain traffic infractions and will avoid a license reinstatement charge under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder. The new laws will also speed up the elimination of newly-assessed “responsibility” fees by a year. The fees were enacted by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislators in …

Sturgis Hospital has implemented measures to improve the security of patients, visitors and staff. Effective today, the inner door of the Emergency Room entrance will be locked at all times, and a hospital staff member will be stationed at the window between the inner and outer doors to provide access. Any time of the day, ER patients should come to …

The state House this week approved state Rep. Aaron Miller’s legislation to eliminate the requirement for a professional teaching certificate to new educators, giving teachers more time to work with students and focus on educational growth in the classroom. New teachers are issued a standard – formerly called a provisional – teaching certificate, with a professional teaching certificate available to …