News

Bids for the most comprehensive overhaul of a St. Joseph County icon have come in about $400,000 more than budgeted. St. Joseph County Road Commission Manager John Lindsey and engineer Garrett Myland said the Centreville-based agency budgeted $2.8 million for refurbishing the Langley Covered Bridge. The low bid, though, was more than $3.2 million. At the moment, the road commission …

Michigan State Police troopers wish to remind the public of an old scam that has returned to the area recently. Investigators are following up on an incident that took place last month in Calhoun County’s Newton Township. A homeowner was approached by three men who offered to re-seal the homeowner’s driveway and exposed basement walls. The suspects sprayed the drive …

The case of a Sturgis-area woman missing since 2018 was at the center of a rally last weekend in Centreville. More than 50 people gathered Saturday outside the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to raise awareness to the plight of Brittany Wallace Shank. She was 23 when she disappeared in November 2018, last seen in Fawn River Township. Sturgis resident …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters recently issued a media release centering on the recent mass shooting at Michigan State University. Peters said he is calling for Congress to pass meaningful gun reforms, including legislation to expand federal background checks to all gun sales — a measure Peters said he helped reintroduce in the Senate. Peters said lawmakers must enact reasonable limits …

A Saginaw man was sentenced last week for his role in a crash that killed an elderly Schoolcraft couple nearly two years ago. Ezra Phillips is expected to spend up to 30 years in prison after the vehicle he was driving T-boned a car in which Joel Shaffer and Dolores Shaffer were occupants. Phillips, 28, was charged with operating while …

Sturgis Interim City Manager Andrew Kuk last week accepted an offer from the city commission to become city manager on a permanent basis. Kuk has served for more than 15 years as assistant city manager, assuming the interim primary role in January after former manager Mike Hughes accepted a new management position at a local manufacturing company. The city commission …

Organizers of the twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and recycling of electronics have announced an important message regarding the spring 2023 event. Pat Kulikoswki, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the county is working with a different drug and lab company that collects household hazardous waste. She said, unfortunately, it does not have enough staff …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a snowmobile trailer taken last month from a location in Sherman Township. Troopers were dispatched recently to a residence in the 64000 block of Prairie Lake Road, where the victim told authorities the theft occurred Feb. 18. The trailer is silver/aluminum in color, has a single axle and silver wheels. The …

Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said formal charges against St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite remain pending awaiting laboratory results from Michigan State Police. Lillywhite was arrested shortly before 2:30 a.m. Feb. 26 on U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft Township for alleged drunken driving. He was taken into custody after the Chevy Traverse he was driving rear-ended a vehicle as both …

St. Joseph County Road Commission officials are interested in fielding public input regarding a proposed traffic circle at an intersection in Florence Township. A public hearing later this month will focus on the concept, being proposed for the intersection of Lutz Road and Centreville-Constantine Road. The public hearing starts at 5 p.m. March 15 at the road commission’s Centreville office.