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The coronavirus has claimed another community festival: Centreville’s Covered Bridge Days. Members of the Covered Bridge Days Committee agreed Thursday to cancel the 2020 festival. Chair Vicki Allen said all pros and cons were weighed and in the end, committee members agreed they couldn’t take the risk of keeping the two-day festival on the calendar. Covered Bridge Days was to …

Finally, there have been some restrictions lifted by those in power. I’m so thankful that you can now visit the local tattoo parlor. This should definitely help the economy get back on its feet, arms, backs, chests and necks. I’m wondering if the act of shaking hands or giving hugs will return. Howie Mandel has refused to shake hands with …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that Michigan’s stay-at-home order remains in effect through May 15 despite Republicans’ refusal to extend her underlying coronavirus emergency declaration, as she amended it to allow construction, real estate and more outdoor work to resume in person next week. The Democratic governor, who may be sued by the GOP-led Legislature, addressed reporters the same day …

A 16-year-old boy has died after going into cardiac arrest while being restrained by staff at a southwestern Michigan facility for teens with behavioral problems. The Kalamazoo Public Safety office says the teen died Friday at a hospital. Officers found him unresponsive Wednesday afternoon at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo. Police say he was taken to a hospital and investigators later …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted Thursday to move the 2020 Three Rivers Water Festival to July. Chamber director Christy Trammell said the difficult decision was made out of concern that the original dates, June 18-20, were simply too close to the current COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the annual community celebration will be July …

Glen Oaks Community College plans to award nearly $300,000 in emergency grants to assist eligible students whose lives and education have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. The funding is part of the overall $6 billion package from the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund, and authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation is launching a $20 for $20 Gift Card Promotion. When a $20 gift card is purchased through the foundation at the web site threeriversfoundation.com, the purchaser will receive an additional $20 gift card. The goal is to help and support small businesses. The donation will cover the purchase of 250 gift cards putting up …

As part of its 2020 construction season, Michigan Department of Transportation has announced plans to complete improvements at four intersections with M-66 in the Sturgis area. According to MDOT, the intersections are at Fawn River Road, West South Street, West Street and Wenzel Avenue. MDOT’s upgrades, at no cost to the city, include Intelligent Transportation System/ connected vehicle enhancements; changing …

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature refused Thursday to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration and voted to authorize a lawsuit challenging Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s authority and actions to combat the pandemic. The governor, unfazed, responded with orders stating under one law that an emergency still exists, while under another law declaring new 28-day states of emergency and disaster. The latter …

A proposed staffing move that would likely include furloughs, reduced hours and potential layoffs could impact as many as 45 St. Joseph County employees. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners examined the issue of temporary staffing reductions in light of the coronavirus pandemic and financial toll it has taken on county operations since mid-March. County administrator Teresa Doehring said …