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The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County, and one of its neighboring counties, was lower than the rate in February. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. St. Joseph County’s 4.9 percent unemployment rate for March was down from 5.2 percent the previous month. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a …

Mendon Community Schools was recently acknowledged for donating a bus that was taken out of commission and donated for hands-on training. Members of the Mendon Fire Department sent a letter of thanks to superintendent Leasa Griffith for the opportunity to carry out an extrication exercise involving more than 30 firefighters from five area departments. The event took place April 17 …

Centreville Public Schools plans to buy two new buses as a component of the district’s 2013 voter-approved millage request. Board members on Monday agreed to buy a pair of 2019 Cummins diesel-engine buses from Midwest Transit. Board president Jeff Troyer said the vehicles were subject to a bid process and total cost was $131,286 for the pair. The district will …

Constantine village officials are in the preliminary stages of planning the municipality’s Fourth of July celebration. Addressing the matter during last week’s village council meeting, village manager Mark Honeysett said considering the holiday this year falls on a Sunday, he advised the start of the Independence Day parade move from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate worship services earlier …

Mendon Community Schools Superintendent Leasa Griffith said Mendon High School and the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Department are teaming up to offer first-dose vaccinations Tuesday at the high school. The focus will be Mendon High School students ages 16 years of age and older, Griffith said. Information was sent home to parents last week and is available online through the …

Officials from Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy announced last week they are able to resume Wednesday Warrior Workdays. Volunteers have been advised to incorporate precautions such as practicing social distancing, wearing masks, driving separately to workday locations and using contact tracing. According to agency official Miko Dargitz, the new safety protocol system has been running smoothly. In addition to Wednesday Warriors, …

A 28-year-old man charged with stalking and drug-related offenses was sentenced last week in Branch County. The sentence issued to Travis McCann stems from an incident last fall in Branch County’s Matteson Township. McCann was sentenced to nine months in jail after he entered a guilty plea in March to a charge of aggravated stalking and possession of less than …

Glen Oaks Community College, the new regional host site for the State Motorcycle Safety Training course, has announced details of its upcoming session. For bikers to receive a motorcycle endorsement in Michigan, they are required to complete a basic-skills course. The course has most recently been held at Sturgis Middle School. Paul Aivars, Glen Oaks director of business outreach, said …

Two men were injured earlier this week following a crash in Branch County’s California Township. Sheriff’s deputies said 32-year-old Evan Lindsley of Fort Wayne failed to obey a stop sign on Copeland Road at the intersection of Fremont Road. His vehicle crashed into a car driven by 69-year-old James Wagenknecht of Hamilton, Ind. He was traveling north on Fremont Road. …

Here I am, one of the three siblings at Animal Control.  My brother and sister, Fred and Ginger would love to see me get a new home.  I want to dance my way into your heart faster than my sister.  My name is Rita, my docket number is 50582 at the St. Joseph County Animal Control Shelter located at 652 …