News

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Board of Health has released its “Certificates of Excellence” in food service report for 2014. Award recipients represent food establishments that were able to meet stringent criteria during the year. Ninety-six tri-county food service establishments, including restaurants, bars, catering kitchens and schools, received this year’s award. Schools in St. Joseph County to meet the …

St. Joseph County deputies responded to a stolen vehicle complaint last weekend. The owner of the truck said a blue, 2000 Ford F-150 was parked in his driveway Saturday night and it was discovered stolen Sunday morning. The truck has front- and passenger-side damage from a prior crash. It has Michigan license plate CDJ4297. The truck was last seen in …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced passage of a budget to fund State Police operations by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police. Miller, chairman of the subcommittee, said the panel reported a $612 million budget to fund the law-enforcement agency. Miller said the plan ensures the continuation of vital public-safety programs that have resulted in lowering crime rates in …

A new statewide poll is showing that Proposal 1, which is on the May ballot in Michigan, is in trouble. The survey was commissioned by the Lansing-based “MIRS” newsletter and conducted by Target Insyght. While pro-Prop 1 ads have been aired heavily for three weeks, 55-percent of likely Michigan voters remain opposed to it. And that figure rises to 65 percent after …

Police say the body of a missing Marine was recovered from the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana.  Thirty-three-year-old Jason Holland of Mishawaka initially was reported missing from his home last October.  Two Indiana Michigan Power employees conducting a routine inspection discovered his body Wednesday afternoon near the Twin Branch hydroelectric dam in Mishawaka.  A St. Joseph County coroner used …

A local business owner, members of a family farm and a panel of elected officials were recipients of awards presented Wednesday by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Jeff Pant, owner of Fawn River Kayak Guide and Rental, was named the conservation district’s volunteer of the year. Henry, Ricardo and Martha Miller, of Florence Township-based Villa Miller Farms, were recognized …

State Rep. Aaron Miller announced this week that a state grant has been awarded to reconstruct a portion of Wade Street in Sturgis. Miller said the Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded a $259,000 Transportation Economic Development Fund grant for work on Wade Street from South Centerville Road to a location just east of Clark Street. The roadwork will accommodate …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit on Wednesday executed a search warrant that led to the arrest of three people. According to a department media release, the incident took place in the 67000 block of Klinger Lake Road in White Pigeon Township. Investigators had received information about possible methamphetamine production and distribution from a residence. A search …

An area corn grower has been honored as a state winner in the 2014 National Corn Yield contest sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association. Schoolcraft resident Ronnie Landis placed first in the state in the No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 250.6410 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was a Dekalb brand product. …

A 42-year-old Sturgis man was taken to a Kalamazoo hospital after he was found unconscious in a city street. Officers were called shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of North Clay Street regarding a motorcycle accident. The man was lying in the street with his motorcycle nearby. He was taken to Sturgis Hospital and subsequently to Bronson …