News

Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members last week rated the district’s superintendent “effective” as part of her annual evaluation. Jean Logan, in her third year as head of the 2,600-student district, was given the rating on a four-step scale ranging from ineffective to highly effective. Board president Pete Bennett said the rating process used by the board took …

Several farm animals were killed and injured following a two-vehicle crash last week in Fabius Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies said the collision occurred at 2 p.m. Friday at the south junction of M-60 and U.S. 131. A semi-truck hauling 180 pigs was southbound on U.S. 131 and collided with an eastbound vehicle that pulled in front of the …

A 36-year-old Sturgis man was charged with drug-related offenses after he was found passed out in a vehicle last week in Mendon Township. State police were called shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday to the area of M-60 and Silver Street in response to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in a cornfield. Upon arrival, troopers observed the man unresponsive …

A township official from Cass County who faced conflict of interest allegations has resigned from a local board. The South Bend Tribune reports Frank LaPierre recently resigned as chairman of Ontwa Township’s wastewater board. Edwardsburg businessman Robert J. Donnelly had publicly criticized LaPierre for being board chairman while working for an engineering firm the township contracts with for consulting and …

A jury trial on criminal-sexual-conduct charges against a former Centreville Public Schools teacher has been postponed again, this time due to the death of a family member of a case investigator. Jury selection had been scheduled to begin earlier this month in the case of Terry Miller, 47, a former Centreville junior high and high school teacher initially charged in …

More than a month after the Sturgis community was jarred by vandalism at Franks mausoleum at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis police are continuing their investigation into the case. Meanwhile, former Sturgis City Commission member Rob Sisson, who has expressed outrage about the incident, said someone “tried to send a message” to him with a lawn sign, but it was placed …

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation recently completed its 2016 competitive grant program. The following organizations received grants: Sturgis Helping Hands, $2,500, to assist with the Helping Hands Backpack program; Mixed Martial Arts/ Doyle Community Center, $3,740, for program support; Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, $1,500, to assist with a Sexual Assault Awareness Community Forum; city of Sturgis, $35,000, for Spence …

President-elect Donald Trump’s lead in Michigan is 10,704 votes over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The state Bureau of Elections said Wednesday that results certified by county canvassing boards show Trump ahead with about 4.8 million votes cast. The result still must be certified by the state at a meeting scheduled for Monday. If it stands, the two-tenths of a percentage point …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission is encouraging residents to shake their mailboxes this month. Agency manager Chris Minger said a mailbox post over the years can rot or become wobbly. The annual shaking test is a solid way of determining whether a mailbox is secure and its post strong. The test is suggested to ensure mailboxes and posts are …

The Salvation Army is still in need of volunteers willing to man kettles at collection sites. Service clubs, churches, youth groups and students in need of volunteer hours are encouraged to consider partaking in the bell-ringing duty. In St. Joseph County, the need for bell-ringers is especially great in Colon, Centreville, Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon. Prospective participants are …