News

Local police agencies have seen an increase of scams by people making phone calls and claiming to be with the IRS. Police say a recording tells the call recipient they have done something to defraud the government and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The caller is not specific and they do not address the person by …

The Sturgis Knights of Columbus Council 2508 made donations to St. Joe Community Co-op and Pathfinders Education Center from the Tootsie Roll drive recently held in Sturgis. Pathfinder Educational Center is a centralized Special Education Facility operated by St. Joseph County ISD that provides life skills training to students in special education age 3 to 26 years of age. Students …

Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County Board voted to remove executive director Liz O’Dell from her position pending an upcoming audit. Newly appointed board member John Dobberteen said the audit and subsequent administrative leave for O’Dell were good for the honesty and sincerity of the process. The process will put O’Dell on …

Nominations and appointments to different boards were made Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board received three new members: John Dobberteen, Don Eaton and Janet Bermingham. Meanwhile, Sturgis resident Tim Carmichael was reappointed. Additionally, the county’s Transportation Authority Board appointees were Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Bruce Zakrzewski, Connie Stoppenbach, Kelli Tackett, Marvin Schneider and …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the municipality is not in compliance with a state law covering expenditures for non-motorized improvements. Non-motorized transportation is a critical element in the transportation system and increases mobility choices, relieves traffic congestion, reduces air pollution and fuel consumption and promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles, he said. The state defines non-motorized primarily as pedestrians, …

Colon Elementary School recently received a donation from the Colon Masonic Lodge Tuesday for a fourth-grade trip to Lansing. The group supports the outing each year with a $500 check to help offset expenses. Principal Martha Hymer said the trip takes the abstract teaching of state government and gives students a hands-on experience. The fourth-graders will tour government buildings and …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees members voted recently to move forward with a preliminary USDA loan application for renovations to the campus. The vote followed a presentation by Eduardo LeBlanc of TMP Architecture, who presented a summary of work the firm has been conducting over the last eight weeks. During that time, four vision planning sessions were held, …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has selected Jo and Del Barton of Three Rivers as the winners of this year’s “Bruce C. Snook Citizens of the Year” award. Since 1965, the Lions Club has recognized recipients who, through a commitment to service, have given unselfishly of themselves for the betterment of the community. In keeping with this tradition, the Bartons …

A Vandalia man suffered minor injuries after his vehicle struck a deer then went off the roadway in Cass County. Sheriff Richard Behnke said 21-year-old Devin Todd was driving east on Calvin Hill Road near Kensington Road shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday. Todd’s vehicle struck a deer then several trees after leaving the road. Todd, who was the only occupant …

An area corn-grower has been honored for his effort through the 2016 National Corn Yield Contest. The national contest, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association, recognizes farmers from across the country for their exceptional efforts. Schoolcraft-area resident Ronnie Landis placed second in the state in the “No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class,” with a yield of more than 233 bushels per acre. …