News

November is homeless awareness month and a local entity is staging a collection of personal-hygiene products to benefit St. Joseph County’s own. The drive – which concludes Nov. 30 – is being overseen by the St. Joseph County Housing Task Force to help stock hygiene closets at UCAP in Three Rivers, Building Hope Free Store in Centreville and Friday Friendship …

Here’s a look at November’s Fresh Food Distribution in St. Joseph County. First Presbyterian Church on Lakeview Avenue in Sturgis will kick off the first of November’s six local distributions. It is scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 9. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86 hosts, the next distribution. It will take place at 4 p.m. Nov. 14. Two …

A Cassopolis woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11:25 p.m. Tuesday to an area on M-60 near Wood Lake Road in response to a crash with injuries. Deputies said Cassidy Riedel, 25, was traveling east on M-60 when she lost control of her …

A police pursuit that made its way briefly into St. Joseph County last week concluded when the driver was killed after his vehicle was struck by a semi-tractor trailer. The pursuit started shortly before 4:30 p.m. Friday in Branch County’s Sherwood Township, where authorities attempted to stop a speeding vehicle. The pursuit went into Matteson Township then west into St. …

A community forum hosted last week by Mendon Community Schools helped clarify details of a potential bond renewal request possibly coming up in the spring. Superintendent Leasa Griffith-Mathews said the focus will center on improvements to buildings and grounds at the two-school district, as well as its bus garage and athletic facilities. Griffith-Mathews said about $20 million worth of work …

A nationally recognized coffee chain hoping to break into the Vicksburg market will have a fair amount of information to present when its plan goes before municipal officials. During the Vicksburg Planning Commission’s October meeting, discussion centered on Biggby’s proposed location at the northwest corner of East Prairie and North Richardson streets. Village Council members in September expressed concerns about …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced funding being made available to 47 communities, including Constantine, for road improvements. The Community Service Infrastructure Fund will provide $250,000 to the village. It is targeting the funds for Florence Road, between White Pigeon Road and Cemetery Street; Industrial Drive; and Meyers Street. Repaving will take place by next summer.

A Kalamazoo County branch of Mercury Broadband played a role in helping St. Joseph County Central Dispatch observe First Responders Day. The national acknowledgment was Saturday, but a four-person team from Mercury’s Schoolcraft location showed up during shift change Friday afternoon to express its gratitude. Mishel Northrop, sales and marketing manager for the Kalamazoo market, said St. Joseph County is …

A stronger-than-usual turnout for the fall collection of household hazardous waste Saturday resulted in some impressive numbers. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the twice-a-year collection took place over a four-hour period Saturday morning at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. Preliminary numbers: 20,000 pounds of electronics, nearly 1,400 tires, 15,000 pounds of household hazardous waste and three-quarters …

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport observed a special anniversary last week. Airport director Craig Williams said Avelo Airlines has served AZO for a full year. The first flight between Kalamazoo and Avelo’s Florida destination in Orlando was Oct. 26, 2022. The non-stop service between the two cities has brought affordable and convenient air travel options to Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan, Williams …