News

A first-of-its-kind event in St. Joseph County will take place later this month and proceeds will help raise funds for St. Joseph County 4-H programs. An all-terrain vehicle and off-road vehicle fall color tour ride is set for Oct. 21. The one-day event will cover nearly 100 miles in St. Joseph County and feature a number of scenic routes in …

Construction of the Sturgis splash pad facility at Thurston Woods Park in Sturgis is coming to a conclusion. The only major task is completion of a new bathroom facility, set to be finished before winter. Work on the project started in April. Municipal officials said the splash pad has been a “wish list” item on the city’s agenda for several …

The St. Joseph County United Way has announced details related to its inaugural Turkey Donation Drive. Conducted in partnership with Brewhouse BBQ, the turkey drive is being staged in memory of Kevin Doney. Event organizers said Doney was instrumental in smoking turkeys and chickens during the pandemic, and giving the meat to families in need. In keeping with that tradition, …

A Kent County man last week won $4 million on a Michigan Lottery ticket he purchased as a second choice. Lottery officials said the man had a $50 winning ticket and he intended to reinvest in a $50 scratch-off. The ticket he wanted, however, was sold out so he opted for a $30 scratch-off called Millionaire’s Club. The 54-year-old man …

The sale of Sturgis Hospital is set to take place in mid-October, but one week later than previously discussed. The Sturgis City Commission last week voted to accept a request from Asker Corp. to move the $3 million purchase date of Sturgis Hospital from Oct. 16 to Oct. 23. Final details are being worked out. Asker Corp. intends to buy …

Paper City Development, the local entity owned by Vicksburg native Chris Moore, has purchased Vicksburg Hardware from longtime owner Steve Schimp. As he intended, Moore then sold Vicksburg Hardware to local couple Johnny and Melani DeBault. The deal calls for Paper City to own the building and the DeBaults to own the business. The move ensures Vicksburg Hardware will remain …

The city of Sturgis has hired Jamie Eymer as the new executive director at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Eymer joined the center as event coordinator in June 2022. She has experience in marketing, sales, hospitality and event rentals at SYCA. Eymer told the city she looks forward to filling the spaces at building with more rentals and SYCA-hosted …

A medical emergency is the likely cause of a four-vehicle crash last week in Cass County. Edwardsburg Police officers were summoned at 3:30 p.m. Thursday to an area on Main Street, just west of M-62, where a 42-year-old man lost control of his vehicle. It rear-ended a car driven by a 60-year-old man. The second vehicle collided with an eastbound …

The victim of a car-versus-pedestrian crash earlier this week in the Three Rivers area has been named by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said 16-year-old Three Rivers resident Emma Jean Thomas died at the scene. The incident occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. Monday at U.S. 131, near the Broadway Road intersection. The driver of the vehicle …

Through a combination of pledges and gifts from hundreds of donors, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has met the “$125,000 Challenge” from the Carls Foundation. Funds from the challenge are being earmarked toward the protection and stewardship of the 457-acre LaGrange Valley Wetlands – formerly known as Lake LaGrange property. The conservancy has the additional $250,000 it needs to purchase, protect …