News

An iconic building in Mendon was razed last week, as crews from Grand Rapids-based X-treme Demolition knocked down the Heritage Schoolhouse. The former Mendon High School was taken down after preservation efforts – which included a number of fundraising efforts – were thwarted by increasingly high costs to rehabilitate the multi-story building. In the end, the district’s board of education …

State police are probing the recent break-in of a residence in Park Township. Investigators were called last month to a home at the intersection of Heimbach and Buckhorn roads. The owner said electronics and televisions were stolen within a 75-minute span June 16. Access was gained through forced entry.

State Rep. Aaron Miller, who serves as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, has issued a statement in response to Gov. Rick Snyder signing the state’s budget for the coming fiscal year. Miller said the Legislature has again produced a budget that invests in areas important to Michigan families – roads and bridges, education, public safety and …

St. Joseph County deputies are investigating the theft of two Kayaks from Lennon Road in Nottawa Township. One is a 10-foot Sundolphin, lime green in color. The second was a 10 1/2-foot Perception Sport, faded green in color. Both are sit-in models. The incident was reported June 26 and took place at a residence in the 60000 block of Lennon …

The city of Sturgis has announced a drawdown of the reservoir area upstream of its dam and hydroelectric plant on the St. Joseph River near Centreville. Municipal officials said the drawdown is expected to impact the river by lowering water levels in an area from the dam upstream to the village of Mendon. Water levels are expected to rise downstream …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Executive Director Lynn Coursey announced last week her resignation from the Three Rivers-based agency. Coursey had served in the capacity for 13 years. She said she is pursuing other opportunities, and added she is proud of the COA’s current visibility as a result of its efforts the past 13 years.

Two 14-year-olds have been injured after the golf cart they were in was struck by a pickup truck in southwestern Michigan. Cass County sheriff’s officials say that the collision occurred about 6:25 p.m. Saturday when a girl operating the golf cart failed to yield the right of way to the pickup in Porter Township. The teens in the cart were …

Six west Michigan teens are jailed in connection with the theft of a pair of $2,000 designer sunglasses outside a Battle Creek gas station. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that a 22-year-old man told police he was in a parking lot when his Cartier sunglasses were taken at gunpoint. The man called 911 as he drove after the group when …

The city of Sturgis has identified areas targeted for its road and sidewalk improvements this summer. The locations are: Cottage Street, from South Nottawa to South Lakeview; Walker Street, from South Fourth to South Lakeview; Forest Avenue, from South Centerville to Prairie; White Street, from West South to the south driveway access to the Meijer store; Congress Street, from South …

Constantine resident Rebecca Shank, who lives at 385 S. Washington St., was presented with the Meek’s Mill Garden Club’s Community Beautification Award for June. Shank, who has lived in the house for two years, refinished the original oak hardwood floors and has done extensive electrical and plumbing upgrades. Work now centers on a rec room in the basement. Shank’s home …