News

St. Joseph County Conservation District announced its “Conservationist of the Year” during its annual meeting last week. Agency director Carolyn Grace said Don Preston was the recipient of the conservation district’s highest honor. Preston, who works for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, learned to identify the various invasive species of plants invading the road commission’s right of way. Preston’s …

The deadline for orders for the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s annual tree sale is approaching. The 2023 sale features about two dozen varieties of trees and bushes. The inventory includes pagoda dogwood, red oak, sugar maple, white pine, black walnut and common lilac. Prices and varieties are available on the agency’s website. Pickup date is May 5 and 6 …

Centreville village officials have announced details related to the 2023 Covered Bridge Days community celebration. The two-day festival starts July 14 and this year’s theme will be “Hometown Country.” The annual American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” cancer-awareness event will coincide with Covered Bridge Days and take place July 15. In addition, a worship service will occur Sunday, July 16, …

Constantine Public Schools Superintendent Joe Holloway recently hosted an informational session regarding the district’s upcoming bond proposal. Holloway said if the May 2 request is approved, the district will incur no millage increase, as it would refinance its 2002 bond set to expire in 2029. If the measure is approved, the district would have $3.9 million to address leaking roofs …

St. Joseph County Road Commission officials continue to work on the preliminary stage of an impending road-improvement project. Crews since March 20 have been removing trees along Lutz Road between M-86 and Fairchild Road in advance of this summer’s work. The current phase is expected to be completed on or before May 1. Traffic is limited to local residents and …

A man accused of killing a mid-Michigan woman with a crossbow was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday. Officers were called Sunday to a home on reports that a woman had been shot, the Battle Creek Police Department said. Kori-Lee Moser, 44, was found injured and taken to a hospital, where she later died, officers said. Joel Wagner, 59, was arrested …

Glen Oaks Community College will host a hazardous-materials workshop next month. The three-day program runs May 16 through May 18 to provide a basic knowledge of Department of Transportation hazmat regulations. The free workshop is intended for all hazmat nongovernment and government employees who handle, ship, package, transport and complete shipping documentation of hazardous materials or waste. Class size is …

St. Joseph County is operating with the benefit of two service dogs. The Sturgis Journal is reporting that a yellow lab named Romeo joined deputy felony clerk Melissa Patch in September, while a German Shepherd named Greta is in the middle of her training with Prosecutor David Marvin. Both are service dogs to help calm and ease victims’ fears in …

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded 22 Rural Development Fund Grants – including one to a local entity – to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure to benefit rural communities. MDARD Director Tim Boring said the agency received 78 proposals with requests totaling more than $6.3 million. Of those, MDARD awarded more than $1.8 million, …

A 4-year-old girl and two men were killed and four others injured in a wrong-way crash in southern Michigan near Marshall. A pickup truck traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 in Marengo Township collided head-on about 12:30 a.m. Monday with a minivan, state police said. The 42-year-old driver of the pickup died at the scene. The 46-year-old …