News

Light breezes balanced out the bright sunshine for the 2023 Mackinac Bridge Walk today, and those near-perfect conditions deserve at least some of the credit for the biggest crowd seen in several years. “With roughly 35,000 people from across Michigan and beyond joining us for the bridge walk, this is the largest crowd we’ve seen since 2016 when 45,000 people …

After years of budgeting and several months of planning, St. Joseph County Road Commission officials are preparing for a months-long closure of the Langley Covered Bridge. Agency manager John Lindsey said the county icon will undergo the most comprehensive restoration in its history starting this month and lasting through the end of the year. Lindsey said the work is expected …

An Elkhart woman died last week in a single-vehicle crash in Cass County’s Newberg Township. State police were called Tuesday to the intersection of Corey Lake Road and County Line Road. Investigators concluded the driver, a 26-year-old man from Jones, lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Both occupants …

Community Action’s inaugural “Whack for Warmth” golf outing raised nearly $30,000. Proceeds will be used to help keep families warm this winter. The nonprofit had previously relied on its annual “Walk for Warmth” to raise money for utility assistance in a five-county service area that includes St. Joseph County. The event was held Aug. 5 at Squirrel Hollow Golf Course …

White Pigeon Township will host an event to benefit its bookmobile fundraiser. “Martinis and Murder” will take place starting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Tomahawk Tavern. A limited number of tickets will be made available and are $10 each. They can be purchased through the website Eventbrite. Any remaining tickets on Nov. 15 will be sold for $15 at …

Pregnancy Helpline Center of Three Rivers is resuming a fundraiser to replace its aging ultrasound machine. Pregnancy Helpline Center has partnered with Mendon Mansion Coffee to help the agency with its goal of purchasing a new ultrasound machine. Anyone making a donation of $20 or greater will receive a one-pound bag of Mendon Mansion Coffee premium dark-roast blend or drip-grind …

Here’s a look at this month’s Fresh Food Distribution in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86 will host the month’s first distribution. It will take place at 4 p.m. Sept. 12. St. Joseph County Transportation Authority will provide a free ride to and from the event with 24-hour advance notice. A ride can be secured …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency officer Rebecca Burns said new cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. During the health agency’s board meeting last week, Burns said the first U.S. case of a new variant was reported from a sample collected Aug. 3 by a lab at the University of Michigan. The adult lived in Washtenaw County and had not …

Three dogs perished in a structure fire over the weekend in the village of Constantine. Chief Mike Haydon said the agency was notified shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday about a fire in the 200 block of Plum Street. Crews arrived in a matter of minutes and found the back porch of the residence fully engulfed in flames. Haydon said crews …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is encouraging former members of the military to consider signing up for VA benefits to toxic-exposed veterans. The benefits are the result of the PACT Act, signed into law in 2022. Peters said there is no deadline to apply but his public appeal is being made in hopes of bringing awareness to the potential benefits. PACT …