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A National Weather Service track map showed peak winds reached 130 miles per hour last month in St. Joseph County. St. Joseph County Emergency Services Director Erin Goff and St. Joseph County United Way Executive Director Kelly Hostetler last week provided county commissioners a summary of the May 7 tornadoes that struck St. Joseph and Branch counties. Goff said data …

About one in 10 residences in St. Joseph County does not have access to high-speed internet. The statistic was provided to St. Joseph County officials this month by broadband consultant Chris Scharrer, CEO of Washtenaw County-based DCS Technology Design. Appearing at the county board’s June 11 executive committee meeting, Scharrer said his research shows about 3,100 households – 12 percent …

Sturgis Public Schools students will not be allowed to have their phones on them during the school day starting with the impending academic year. The policy was adopted this month by the district’s board of education. As a result, students now will have to keep their phone silenced and in their locker. Superintendent Art Ebert says discussions about the policy …

The Annual Three Rivers Water Festival seems to get better every year. We didn’t get as involved as we normally do with the many activities this year, so next year we want to try and make more time for this annual event. I did help this year with the Soap Box Derby on Friday afternoon. The volunteers did a great …

Twenty-two Sturgis residents are a step closer to becoming U.S. citizens after completing a two-month class through Centro Vida. A ceremony was held June 11 to acknowledge successful completion of a weekly citizenship preparatory course. Group members are now better prepared for the 100-question assessment required as part of the U.S. citizenship process, according to Centro Vida’s Nancy Barajas. She …

Organizers behind St. Joseph County’s monthly fresh-food distribution are issuing an appeal to the public for support to ensure continuation of the program. Cynthia Pennington said the organization urgently needs donations to continue monthly distribution of 150 fresh-food boxes, each costing $2, for a total of $300 per month. The program operates strictly on donations and its funding will be …

St. Joseph County United Way has established a catastrophic fund for the family of Olivia Wright. All proceeds donated to this specially designated fund will benefit Wright’s husband, Cameron, and daughter, Haven. Questions, concerns or donations can be directed to the Centreville-based agency at 467-9099.

The 14th year of St. Joseph County Conservation District’s annual River Cleanup series starts this weekend with work concentrating on a waterway new to the agency. Conservation District officials and community volunteers will tackle a stretch of Swan Creek in Colon. Event organizers said the route is less than two miles, making it a good option for anyone interested in …

Michigan Department of Transportation’s Chris Jacobs has issued an update regarding the second phase of U.S. 131 construction. Work, which started April 15, is concentrated to an area that includes the village of Schoolcraft and an area north to Shaver Road. According to Jacobs, completed work includes installation of a storm sewer from Lyon Street to Eliza Street; three crossovers …

U.S. Senator Gary Peters said he has introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight of infant formula. Peters said countless families in Michigan and across the country found themselves in a predicament in 2022, when they were faced with a nationwide infant-formula shortage. The shortage was triggered after Abbott Labs in Sturgis inadvertently shipped formula …