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This Saturday is Halloween. Last week I wrote something about the origins of this last day of October. If you are planning to celebrate Halloween this weekend, please have a very festive time. If you happen to be Out and About, be watchful for the little goblins wandering about the neighborhoods. They will be wearing more than the usual masks …

St. Joseph County’s plan to implement a 35-hour work week for non-union and union hourly employees hit a snag and, for the moment, will remain in a holding pattern. County administrator Teresa Doehring raised the issue during the county commission’s meeting Tuesday. She said the proposal derailed when the county’s largest clerical group – the AFSCME union – did not …

Branch County authorities were called this week to an accident in which a woman from Ohio was injured. Deputies responded around 5 p.m. Monday to the intersection of South Fremont and Copeland roads in California Township. Investigators said Ryan Diveley, 36, of Kokomo, Ind., attempted to stop at the intersection but the weight of the cargo he was hauling on …

St. Joseph County Intermediate School District’s board of education has selected Patricia Keller to fill a vacant seat. Keller, who has more than 30 years of experience in education, was one of two candidates for the appointed position. The interview and subsequent decision happened Monday. Keller was sworn in immediately after being appointed. Keller lives in the Colon Community Schools …

The Sturgis Police Department is reminding residents that destroying or stealing an election sign is a crime. The matter was discussed at last week’s Sturgis City Commission meeting. Officials said they have received complaints of political-sign theft. Ryan Banaszak, director of public safety, said there have been reported thefts or destruction of signs around the city. Sign-theft is considered a …

Centreville-based Covered Bridge Healthcare wishes to remind the public it is able to bring its mobile unit to any agency, work site or church in the county to provide free flu shots. No insurance is billed. More information is available by contacting CBH at 467-3228. The free service is available through December.

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s service area. Three additional deaths were reported this week in St. Joseph County. On Tuesday, 18 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in St. Joseph County, bringing the cumulative cases since March to 938. County cases passed the 800 mark last week. In Branch County, …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned Wednesday that Michigan has more confirmed daily cases of the coronavirus than ever, noting a sharp increase since the state Supreme Court invalidated her sweeping orders earlier this month. The number of COVID-19 cases had been gradually rising for months prior to the Oct. 2 ruling, from a seven-day average of 119 in June to 984 — …

Unemployed Michiganders can get an extra six weeks of benefits under a bipartisan bill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Tuesday. Whitmer signed Senate Bills 886 and 991 codifying part of her now-void executive orders expanding unemployment benefits to Michiganders from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. The Michigan Supreme Court on Oct. 2 ruled the 1945 law from which …

A 27-year-old man who fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run incident in the Meijer parking lot in Three Rivers pleaded guilty in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Thomas Stambaugh appeared Monday before Judge Paul Stutesman. Stambaugh pleaded guilty to driving on a suspended license causing death. The incident occurred June 18 and killed 62-year-old Three Rivers resident Laura Jacobs. …