News

McDonough appears in court

Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough pled guilty Monday to a charge of operating while intoxicated. Appearing before District Court Judge Jeff Middleton, McDonough owned up to his offense stemming from a traffic stop in late October on West Michigan Avenue and Railroad Drive in Three Rivers. As a result of Monday’s court session, McDonough’s license is revoked. In …

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Covered Bridge reopens

A detour around St. Joseph County’s iconic Langley Covered Bridge was lifted last week, a month after height limiters at both ends of the structure were damaged in separate incidents. Road commission manager John Lindsey said the height limiters were knocked over. In addition, their concrete bases were damaged. The first incident occurred Dec. 2 on the south side of …

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Centreville schools to close for funeral of staff member

Centreville Public Schools lost a member of its family over Christmas break. Reading interventionalist Chris Bell passed away Wednesday following a months-long battle with cancer. Bell, 54, was a lifelong Centreville resident, graduating as Chris Johnson from Centreville High School in 1988. She served as coach of the school’s junior varsity girls’ team for nine seasons and was an assistant …

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County unemployment for November down

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent from October. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.7 percent in October to 4.6 percent in November. The county’s November rate from a year earlier was 3.5 percent. Meanwhile, Cass …

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Free ride home gives more free rides than last year

St. Joseph County Transportation Authority provided more rides last week as part of its “New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home” than it did a year before. The six-hour service started at 7 p.m. Tuesday and attracted a total of 18 people, according to CTA Director Allen Balog. The mark was two people more compared to the eve of 2024. Balog …

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DNR suggestions for discarding Christmas trees

Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued a media release with suggestions for how to best discard live Christmas trees. Agency officials say many trees are classified as softwoods – including balsam and Douglas fir – and they are often too dense for most fish to use as a habitat. So, as an alternative option, the DNR encourages creating a brush …

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Chad Spence sworn in

The four-year term of St. Joseph County Sheriff Chad Spence became official Thursday with a swearing-in ceremony at Sturges Young Center for the Arts. Spence was elected sheriff during a five-man race in the primary election, topping challengers that included Jason Bingaman and Dennis Allen. Incumbent Mark Lillywhite chose to not seek re-election. Also involved in Thursday’s ceremony was David …

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5k benefits Centreville teacher

More than 100 people showed up Wednesday for a benefit 5K to support a Centreville teacher recovering from breast cancer. “Love for Laura,” organized by longtime friend Michelle Smith of Vicksburg, was coordinated to recognize Laura Wilson. Wilson is an English/language arts teacher at Centreville Junior High. She previously taught 19 years at Vicksburg Middle School. Participants included several Centreville …

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Former Sturgis schools superintendent dies

A longtime administrator with Sturgis Public Schools passed away last month. Larry McConnell died Dec. 21 at the age of 92. He had served as Sturgis superintendent for 18 years during a span that included the 1990s. After retirement, McConnell remained active in the community. He served on the Thurston Woods Village Board of Directors and was a past president …

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Great Lakes Center of Expertise will focus on oil spills

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters recently issued a media release regarding actions he has helped take to prevent oil spills in the Great Lakes. Peters said he and others took action after realizing the state isn’t adequately equipped to handle a potential spill in the Great Lakes. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise was created. …

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