Recent Posts

No recall of fair board members

Three members of the St. Joseph County Grange Fair Board survived a recall attempt. Tony Hochstetler, Gary Clark and Tricia Ulsh were targeted for their part in the October dismissal of former fair manager Missi Tefft. During the Fair Association’s annual meeting Monday, an anonymous, paper vote was taken to determine the trio’s fate. Though “yes” votes in favor of …

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Sturgis Chamber holds awards dinner

The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce last week recognized its members through the annual chamber awards dinner. The first award recognized outgoing 2022 chamber president Matt Scheske. Meanwhile, the 2022 honorary board member award went to Leonard Eishen, who served as chamber president in the early 1980s. The Phoenix Award was given to The Sparrow House, accepted by Libby Hooley. …

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ISD applies for school resource officer grant

Members of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Board of Education agreed to apply for a school resource officer grant. ISD superintendent Teresa Belote said the competitive grant is worth $25 million across the state of Michigan. It requires grantees to provide a 50 percent cash match for approximately three years. Belote said she spoke to St. Joseph County …

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Driver arraigned in connection with fatal crash

St. Joseph County District Court officials said Jiminez Lopez, age 24, has been arraigned after he allegedly drove a vehicle into the rear of a car that killed a 6-month-old boy Nov. 1 in Mendon Township. Lopez is charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, driving with a suspended license and operating under the …

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Three injured in Sturgis area crash

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a single-vehicle, roll-over crash last week in Fawn River Township. The incident occurred around 11:30 Friday morning on Franks Avenue, south of Ivanhoe Street. Investigators said a 2006 Ford F-150 was traveling north on Franks Avenue when the driver, a 16-year-old boy from Sturgis, lost control. The vehicle went off the road and rolled …

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Proposed public defender roster

St. Joseph County’s roster of public defender attorneys appears to be set for the 2022-23 state fiscal year, as the matter was discussed during last week’s board of commissioners’ executive committee meeting. Chief Public Defender Keith Stickley said the proposed eight-person roster is comprised of: Laurie Hines, John Bush, Rhonda Ives, Luke Nofsinger, Tim George, Paul Gipson, Melissa Hallack and …

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Across the US, a return to democratic order. Will it last?

There was no violence. Many candidates who denied the legitimacy of previous elections lost and quietly conceded. And few listened when former President Donald Trump tried to stoke baseless allegations of electoral fraud. For a moment, at least, there’s a sense of normalcy in the U.S. The extremism that has consumed political discourse for much of the last two years has been replaced by …

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Serious injuries in Cass County crash

A 50-year-old Indiana man was injured in a one-vehicle crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Jefferson Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday to the area of M-60 and Stone Lake Drive on the south side of Cassopolis. Investigators said a car driven by Michael Douglas II, a South Bend resident, was heading …

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Fundraiser for Linsey Wolff

Organizers of Centreville’s annual Christmas parade and celebration are appealing to the public for help raising funds to benefit a local elementary school teacher. Centreville’s Hometown Christmas Committee, its Covered Bridge Days Committee and its Downtown Development Authority are teaming up to organize a raffle to aid Centreville Elementary third-grade teacher Linsey Wolff. Wolff last month was diagnosed with breast …

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Pet Pictures with Santa

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County is, once again, offering “Pet Pictures” with Santa. The opportunity to feature the family pet with Santa will be available noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Three Rivers Lions Club, 420 Sixth Ave. Cost is $10, with each additional pet $2 more per pet.

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