News

A Niles woman died last week in a single-vehicle crash in Cass County’s Silver Creek Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11:57 p.m. Thursday to an area on Garrett Road, north of M-62. Investigators said a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Amanda Huffman was heading south on Garrett Road. The vehicle crossed the centerline and left the east …

Design-engineering services related to a pair of road-improvement projects were approved this week by Three Rivers City Commission. Mayor Tom Lowry said the action taken Tuesday is in advance of work to be performed on South Constantine Street from Broadway Street south to the city limits. Meanwhile, the other upgrade will be made on 11th Avenue, between Washington and Jefferson …

Constantine municipal officials this week signed an agreement with the village of Centreville regarding law-enforcement services. Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the contract signed Monday means Constantine Police Department will provide its services to Centreville. A contract between Centreville and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department expires at the end of the month. Centreville will receive coverage from two …

Sturgis Public Schools is awarding a one-time stipend to its staff members who worked for the district last year and returned for the 2024-25 academic year. Superintendent Art Ebert said full-time employees will receive a $1,000 bonus in their Oct. 4 paycheck. Meanwhile, part-time employees are due a $500 bonus. In all, about 325 district employees are in line to …

St. Joseph County United Way is about to begin its annual Meijer Gift Card Raffle. At stake in the silent auction, which coincides with the St. Joseph County Grange Fair, are a $500 store gift card and a $250 card. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Tickets are now available and can be purchased in person, online …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a burglary that occurred earlier this month in Constantine Township. Investigators were called to the 60000 block of U.S. 131 in response to an incident that took place overnight Aug. 15 to Aug. 16. Items taken included a Stihl chain saw, a five-gallon gas container, a first-aid kit and a bag of hand tools, …

MSU Extension next week is hosting a free event that may be of interest to area farmers. The On-Farm Research Field Day starts at 9 a.m. Aug. 28 at Covered Bridge Farm County Park. The one-day event will feature educational sessions in the morning, followed by lunch, then conclude with on-farm research sites for an interactive pivot performance evaluation. More …

Four fugitives were arrested last week in Cass County following an investigation spearheaded by Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said the case started with an investigation into the theft of utility trailers from a location in Van Buren County. Investigators on Aug. 14 executed a search warrant in the 24000 block of Dewey Lake Street, south of Decatur. They …

Less than two months after issuing their district’s leader a contract extension, Constantine Public Schools Board of Education has placed superintendent Joe Holloway on leave. Due to the matter being a personnel issue, board members said they are not at liberty to elaborate on their decision. Assistant superintendent Patrick Breen will serve as acting superintendent while Holloway is on leave. …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the department’s participation in a speed-enforcement program starts later this week. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and through funding from the Office of Highway Safety Planning, the sheriff’s department is able to add extra patrols and focus on speed enforcement in areas where excessive speeding is …