News

Kalamazoo Salvation Army is hosting its annual Christmas Toy Shop in December and hopes to secure some help with the project. Oliver Knuth, volunteer coordinator with the agency, said slots are still available for toy sorting, toy shop set-up, toy shop table helper toy shop runner. Help is needed at the Salvation Army’s South Burdick Street location from Dec. 16 …

St. Joseph County Community Corrections and 45th Circuit Court were recently awarded a combined amount of more than $450,000 in grant funding to support critical, problem-solving courts and community corrections programs. Melissa Bliss, community corrections director, said the grants were provided by the State Court Administrative Office and Michigan Department of Corrections. Funds will enable the courts and community corrections …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved its roster of public defenders for the 2024-25 fiscal year. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners agreed to terms with Keith Stickley, chief public defender for St. Joseph County, who oversees the public defenders. Funding for public defenders costs about $1.1 million annually and is split between St. Joseph County and Michigan Indigent …

Fibre Converters of Constantine is offering a matching grant of up to $100,000 toward installation of new playground equipment at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Director Jaymes MacDonald said total cost of the project is $320,000. The county has already received a $77,000 grant and plans to provide in-kind services of nearly $40,000 …

St. Joseph County has reached uncharted territory regarding its plan to refurbish the 50-year-old courts building at the county courthouse complex. During Tuesday’s monthly board of commissioners meeting, the seven-member panel approved a plan to move the process from schematic-design phase to design-development phase. While the step is one of several before actual renovation starts, it marks the furthest St. …

St. Joseph County United Way is now accepting food and monetary donations for its 2024 “Thanksgiving for All” event. The annual event provides a Thanksgiving meal for up to 500 families who otherwise might not have a Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy. Non-perishable foods can be dropped off at the United Way’s Centreville-based headquarters. In addition, collection boxes have been set …

Five people were appointed to the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Board, following action Tuesday by St. Joseph County commissioners. Sturgis Township resident Amanda Johnson and Margaret Mead of Three Rivers are new appointees. Meanwhile, Timothy Barron, Phillip Kline and George Letts were re-appointed to two-year terms.

A Sturgis woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash over the weekend in Indiana’s DeKalb County. Deputies responded at 2:40 p.m. Saturday to an area on U.S. 6 and County Road 19. Investigators said Trinka Rinard, 54, was driving a car that struck the rear of a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Adam Hartman, of Auburn, Ind. Sheriff’s officials said Rinard …

The City of Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant had an estimated 50,000 gallons of untreated wastewater that was discharged into the St. Joseph River. The issue was identified at 3:30 p.m. on Monday (October 14th). The sanitary sewer overflow was due to complications during transition to the new pump station on Broadway Street. Persons are advised to avoid any body …

Glen Oaks Community College has opened scholarship applications for the 2025-26 academic year. Applications are due March 1, 2025. Scholarships Available include the Presidential Scholarship, awarded to 2025 graduating high school seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.5. The scholarship provides up to $4,000 annually, which can be applied to all educational expenses. The Dean’s Scholarship, awarded to 2025 …