Recent Posts

Conservation district seeking volunteers

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is looking for volunteers interested in helping with a macroinvertebrate collection next month. Agency director Carolyn Grace said the event was originally scheduled for this weekend but has been bumped to an unknown date in May due to a delay at the state level. Grace said she does know it will likely begin with …

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New scholarship available to Sturgis students

A newly created scholarship is now available to a Sturgis High School senior who intends to enter a trades program after high school. Thanks to the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, the Austin Stemen Scholarship for the Trades has been established. A 2018 Sturgis High School graduate, Stemen passed away in 2019 after a period of illness. Scholarship funds are available …

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Solid Waste Committee event collects household hazardous waste

​Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste, electronics and other difficult-to-discard items had a clear leader in terms of popularity at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. ​Pat Kulikowski, secretary of event sponsor St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, was unable to provide an explanation for the unprecedented number of tires turned in Saturday. In all, she said, about 1,700 were turned in …

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Two women arrested on drug charges

​Two Burr Oak residents were arrested on drug-related offenses over the weekend. ​Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 6 o’clock Saturday evening regarding potential drug activity. Deputies subsequently spoke with two women in the 100 block of North Second Street. During contact, deputies identified a 35-year-old female and a 53-year-old woman who reside at the residence. Lillywhite said deputies discovered the …

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Bicyclist died after being struck by vehicle

A Coldwater woman died last week after the bicycle she was riding was struck by a sport-utility vehicle in Branch County. Michigan State Police troopers continue to investigate the incident, which occurred April 12 in the area of South Angola Road and Nye Road in Ovid Township. Once on scene, troopers determined the 25-year-old woman was southbound on South Angola …

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Local group recognized for small business initiative

Four Sturgis men were recognized last week by a local civic group for an initiative they started in order to help local businesses. Dan Root, Tony Percival, Dave Northrop and Von Metzger, who led the Love Local $20$20 initiative a year ago, were given the Exchange Club’s “Book of Golden Deeds” award on Thursday. Root saw an idea posted on …

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Long-time county employee retires

A long-time St. Joseph County employee retired last week, ending a career that exceeded more than 30 years. Pat Kulikowski has served three decades as administrative assistant. In that role, she has had the unique experience of working under each of the county’s three administrators – Pat Yoder, Judy West-Wing and Teresa Doehring – since the position was created in …

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Out and About – Week of April 19th

Retirement is a goal we all look forward to reaching. On the average, we work for forty years and then enjoy those golden years for at least another twenty. There are some who never retire, because they love their job so much. Darlene, from Main Street Cafe, has really loved her job because of the customers that frequent the cafe. …

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Communications project with Cass County considered

St. Joseph County is in the preliminary stages of ironing out a communications project with Cass County. The matter of constructing a new radio tower to be shared by central dispatch departments from both counties was fielded by commissioners during their executive committee meeting Wednesday. St. Joseph County Central Dispatch Director Dennis Brandenburg told commissioners that a coverage study following …

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Power-pole replacement begins in Sturgis

Indiana & Michigan Power has begun power-pole replacement and repair work on its 69-kilovolt line in Sturgis. The project started Monday and will continue through Friday next week. Municipal officials said the scope of work will necessitate some short-term closures on South Orange Street. Specifically, an impending closure will affect South Orange Street between West Congress Street and U.S. 12 …

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