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Despite the snow and cold, an $18 million road project is slated to kick off today. The five-mile, Constantine U.S. 131 bypass is scheduled to begin with attention focusing on construction of a bridge over the St. Joseph River in Constantine Township, about a half mile west of the U.S. 131 bridge in the village of Constantine. Contractor Hardman Construction …

Investigators with the White Pigeon detachment of the Michigan State Police agency were called to a Lockport Township business last week in response to a break-in and theft. Around 8 a.m. Friday, MSP personnel were called to Eagle Auto Parts after an employee noticed a 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck and a variety of hand tools were taken from the premises. …

A spring completion date for the Three Rivers Menard’s home-improvement store appears to be on track. Construction officials said construction of the 215,000-square-foot business is on pace to open in April, as projected. The store is under construction on the south side of Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131. Development started in July. The new Menard’s is expected to …

A state report that gauges the well-being of Michigan’s children shows St. Joseph County falls in the lowest third of all the counties in the state. The annual Kids Count in Michigan report indicates St. Joseph County stands 58th of Michigan’s 82 counties. The study takes into account 15 indicators to determine child well-being. From 2005 through 2011, the number …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said statistics show the effort of the enhanced St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit is making a difference in the number of arrests related to methamphetamines. Citing statistics from 2012, Lillywhite said 18 meth-related arrests were from January through September in St. Joseph County. After the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved funding …

A 39-year-old Mendon woman suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle accident shortly after midnight Thursday. The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said an eastbound vehicle on M-60 at Haas Road had lost control, run off the roadway and struck several small trees. Two passengers, one 66 years and the other 6 months of age, were uninjured. The driver was treated …

A fire was quickly contained early Wednesday at a residence in Lockport Township. Firefighters were called at 12:30 a.m. to the 60000 block of Lutz Road, where fire personnel reported the residence filling with smoke. A wood- burning stove in the basement was found to be the source of the fire. Damage to the residence was limited, firefighters said.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has given Enbridge Energy the green light to replace about 160 miles of its crude oil and petroleum pipeline through 10 southern Michigan counties. The company says the project is necessary to increase capacity and address the long-term integrity of the 6B pipeline, which ruptured near Marshall in July 2010, spilling more than 800,000 gallons …

Hi, my name is Shelba. I want you to know that last week’s Pet of the Week, Queenie, was adopted and has found her forever home. Sugar, the kitty from a couple of weeks ago, is still waiting for someone to give her a forever home. I am a grey female, one year old. When people pick me up I …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County bucked a months-long trend and increased from November’s figure. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.6 percent December unemployment rate was a nine-tenths percent of an increase from November. Still, the December 2012 rate was 1.5 percent less than the same month …