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Thirteen of St. Joseph County’s 16 townships plan to take part in the 2021 matching-fund, road-improvement offer made by the county’s road commission. St. Joseph County Commissioner Dan Czajkowski cited the information during the board’s meeting Tuesday. He said the matter was discussed at a recent Roads Committee meeting, which typically involves township officials and representatives from the road commission. …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced St. Joseph County is nearing 100 COVID-related deaths. Through last week, the county had recorded 91 deaths that agency officials said are attributed to COVID-19. The number of cumulative cases in St. Joseph County since March 2020 is more than 4,500. Based on statistics provided by the agency, daily cases were steadily declining …

Several minor issues were resolved during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Two people were re-appointed to the Veteran’s Affairs Board: Park Township resident William Thompson and Bill Walters of Nottawa Township. Their terms are for a four-year period. Also, commissioners agreed to dedicate funds it received through the recent sale of the Covered Bridge Healthcare building into the county’s capital-improvement fund. …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a state of emergency in order to continue broadcasting its meetings electronically. During their first in-person meeting since fall, commissioners Tuesday agreed they will stick to assembling in person for their twice-a-month board meetings. The five-member commission, however, concurred it would be prudent to maintain public broadcast of their meetings via Zoom …

A citizen’s tip helped state police troopers and their investigation into a hit-and-run incident occurring earlier this week in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Troopers said the tip led them Tuesday to a residence on Hackman Road in Burr Oak Township, where they discovered the vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident. The 2005 Chevy Equinox was impounded for …

Discussions between Park Township and the Three Rivers Public Library appear to have ended, based on the outcome of a meeting between the two sides last week. Township officials and members of the library board have reached an impasse over renewal of a contract, which involves the township’s annual contribution to the library in exchange for its residents having in-district …

State Rep. Steve Carra has announced he plans to seek the U.S. Congressional 6th District seat in the 2022 mid-term election. The seat is currently held by Fred Upton. Carra was elected to the 59th House District in November after emerging from a field of five candidates in the August primary. He succeeded term-limited Aaron Miller. Carra staged a Congressional …

A partnership involving Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Arbor Day Foundation has declared a St. Joseph County community a “Tree City USA” honoree for 2020. The city of Sturgis was announced as one of 124 Michigan communities to receive the honor. The certification is for work accomplished during 2020. All recipients will receive their reward by the end …

The staff at Eickhoff Funeral Home want the citizens of St. Joseph County to be aware, that beginning in April, families that experienced the death of a loved one due to COVID-19 may be eligible for up to $9,000 in funeral assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Two pieces of legislation recently passed by Congress – the Coronavirus …

The third of a three-phase construction process began last week at Centreville Public Schools. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said the work started Friday and the scope of work will be broad and impact both of the district’s two buildings. By a 3-to-2 margin, voters in the 750-student district approved a November 2013, $12.8 million request to finance a variety of improvements …