News

A former greenhouse property that’s been redeveloped to provide a public gathering space for biking, running, walking and other purposes is set to open this week along the Kalamazoo River. A grand opening ceremony for the Riverview Launch will be held Thursday. The event will feature food and drinks, live music, yard games and entertainment. The Kalamazoo County Land Bank …

The Sturgis Junior Women’s League donated $3,200 each to three area organizations. Recipients of the donations were Pregnancy Helpline of St. Joseph County, Keystone Place and St. Joseph County Victim Services. Checks were presented last week. Karen Bates, president of Sturgis Junior Women’s League, said there have been years when the total raised equaled the amount provided to each of …

A man was arrested last weekend in Sturgis after he had started a trash fire. Sturgis police were called at 9:45 p.m. Saturday to the 500 block of Center Street in response to a man being assaultive and disorderly. Once at the residence, officers discovered a small trash fire had been set next to the home. Officers were able to …

The League of Michigan Bicyclists will conduct its annual Pedal and Paddle Tour in Three Rivers later this month. This year’s route will explore the areas in and around St. Joseph County Sept. 18-20. There are more than 50 riders registered for the tour, which will see participants ride daily bicycle loops throughout St. Joseph County, then paddle the Portage …

Mendon residents are in store for relief from the summer-long, downtown infrastructure-improvement project. Village manager John Hyden said there’s a chance street paving will begin Friday, so long as the weather between now and Friday allows. Street paving will mark a significant step toward completion of the $4.1 million project, which started March 30. Hyden said in addition to the …

Tuesday’s first day of classes in St. Joseph County schools brought with it a number of changes and new faces to its nine public school districts. Two new superintendents are in place, as former Constantine High School Principal Christine Barnes stepped in as chief of Colon Community Schools. Meanwhile, former Three Rivers superintendent Roger Rathburn will oversee Mendon Community Schools …

White Pigeon Area Community Foundation, a geographic affiliate of Sturgis Area Community Foundation, recently approved $7,600 in grant awards during its 2015 competitive-grant program. The Adele M. Gray Fund awarded $4,500 to the White Pigeon Caring Families for community and program support. The Fund for White Pigeon also provided grant support to White Pigeon Caring Families with a $1,000 grant. …

  A gray sky and light rain didn’t stop thousands of people from a Labor Day tradition Monday, the five-mile walk across the Mackinac Bridge led by Gov. Rick Snyder. And the weather also didn’t stop dozens more from taking a plunge in the Straits of Mackinac below the bridge as swimmers in wet suits and caps completed an inaugural …

The top lawyer for the Michigan House recommended Tuesday that one state lawmaker be expelled and another censured for misconduct stemming from an attempt to hide their extramarital affair. Brock Swartzle, general counsel for the Republican-led chamber and chief of staff to the speaker, said GOP Rep. Todd Courser of Lapeer should be kicked out in part because he has …

An Illinois man suffered a head injury after he fell from a moving golf cart over the weekend. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called at 11 p.m. Sunday to Storey Road in Penn Township, where 20-year-old Christian Moller of Arlington Heights was injured after falling from the back of a golf cart that had made a left-hand …