WLKM Radio 95.9 FM

St. Joseph County officials appear poised to implement a 35-hour work week for county staff. For the second consecutive executive committee meeting, commissioners focused on ways to close an anticipated financial shortfall of $150,000. With 2020 revenue coming in less than budgeted, the potential deficit has emerged as a priority for commissioners. The proposed measure would cut five hours of …

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a complaint of stolen property at a residence in Constantine Township. Deputies responded July 31 to a location on Winding River Road. The victim told authorities a Mercury outboard motor, a half-ton floor jack, a 30-ton bottle jack and a 12-ton bottle jack were stolen from a shed in the yard on the river side of …

St. Joseph County commissioners have recommended applying for a grant to retain additional manpower. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners fielded a request from Sheriff Mark Lillywhite regarding a state-issued Secondary Road Patrol grant application. It’s a grant the county has received for a number of years, Lillywhite said. The grant provides partial funding for two additional deputies specifically …

A car was stolen last week from a location in White Pigeon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 3:45 a.m. Saturday to Crooked Creek Road in response to a motor vehicle theft. Investigators said suspects forced entry into a barn and stole a 1989 Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep is red with black fender flares, a black bikini …

State police troopers are investigating a hit-and-run incident involving a watercraft in Branch County. According to a department media release, the incident occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday on Marble Lake in Quincy Township. The suspect watercraft struck a pontoon boat and left the scene without reporting the collision. Investigators are on the lookout for a smaller, walk-through watercraft, white in …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education announced its COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said if Michigan is in safe start phases 1-3, families who have opted to participate in Centreville’s online learning academy will continue for at least one semester in that program, then re-evaluate. All other students will have remote learning, with instruction provided through Google …

Two Dowagiac residents were injured last weekend in an accident involving a pickup and a motorcycle in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday to the area of Marcellus Highway and Finch Road in response to a personal-injury accident. Emergency personnel was called to the scene after 21-year-old Three Rivers resident …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a stainless-steel block from the 20000 block of M-60 in Park Township. The block was likely taken at some point in July and is approximately three feet in length and two feet wide. Investigators said the block weighs about 400 pounds.

More than $2 million will be directed to local roads through the St. Joseph County Road Commission’s allocation fund. In a collaboration between the road commission and 12 of the county’s 16 townships, the road commission has adopted a plan in which it will contribute 50 percent of costs toward improvements such as chip-seal and hot-mix asphalt. The participating township …

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed Sturgis Public Schools to adjust daily start and end times for the upcoming school year. Classes at Sturgis High School will begin at 7:30 a.m. and dismiss at 1:55 p.m. on full days, and dismiss at 10:50 on half-days. Sturgis Middle School will start classes at 7:45 a. m. and end at 2:10 p.m. Half-days …