News

The state says Michigan’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate rose 1.1 points to 5.9 percent in May as a large number of people entered the workforce for the summer. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget released state and regional employment figures Thursday. The statewide rate is down 1.6 points from 7.5 percent in May 2014. The department says the …

A once-popular family attraction in southwestern Michigan is up for auction after it didn’t open this year. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the telephone at Deer Forest has been disconnected and later this month a Kalamazoo-based online auction house has scheduled the sale of the 32-acre tourist attraction. Deer Forest included train rides through the trees and the feeding of deer …

Researchers say an anonymously funded free college tuition program for high school graduates of the Kalamazoo Public Schools has helped increase college graduation rates. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports a new study finds students eligible for the Kalamazoo Promise are a third more likely to graduate college within six years of finishing high school versus their peers before the program was …

This spring, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources put out the call for people to report the herptiles – reptiles and amphibians – that they observe across the state. The request is part of an atlas project, designed to monitor the presence and distribution of “herps” across the state. “It’s for all species, common or rare,” said Lori Sargent, a …

St. Joseph County commissioners last week approved Schaffer Consulting of Bethesda, Md., to review the financial and operating procedures of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. Commissioners agreed to include the county health department in the study. County administrator Pat Yoder said Schaffer is expected to do a follow-up performance and look at opportunities …

A Colon Township resident, whose plans to develop an operation that would house up to 90,000 chickens, has withdrawn his proposal. The two-barn project was proposed earlier this year by Jonathan Schrock and poised for a location on the north side of M-86, just west of Palomino RV – Division of Forest River Inc. Colon township and village officials, as …

Sturgis Public Schools has announced Nicole Airgood will fill the principal position at Eastwood Elementary, succeeding Bob Matkin, who is retiring. Airgood has been the principal at Wall School since 2009 and prior to that was principal for four years at White Pigeon’s Central Elementary.

A ceremonial ground breaking took place Tuesday for the South County Community Enrichment Center. County, municipal and commission on aging dignitaries gathered at the Sturgis site for a 20-minute program that included the ceremonial dirt-turning. Making comments to the crowd of about 30 people were Sturgis Mayor Ken Malone, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus, St. Joseph County Commissioner Don …

The Michigan Main Street Center has awarded its first Design Assistance service to property owners in downtown Three Rivers. Mike and Nancy Russell, owners of Main Street Café, have plans to purchase and develop the units that previously housed Pub 21 as well as an adjacent site at 23 N. Main St. Depending on the individual needs of the property …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced a pair of upcoming opportunities to meet with him at locations in Cass County. Miller on June 30 will be at the Council on Aging in Dowagiac, from 11 a.m. to noon. Miller will then be at Zeke’s, also in Dowagiac, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., also on June 30. Miller said a big …