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Sturgis Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into a shed fire last week. According to a department media release, firefighters were called at 10:45 a.m. Thursday to a report of a structure fire in the 500 block of North Lakeview Avenue. First-arriving units found a backyard shed on fire, and flames dangerously close to a nearby garage and …

St. Joseph County Road Commission this week will continue its work on a project in Nottawa Township. Agency officials said paving on North Angling Road starts today. It will cover a stretch from Centreville village limits to Butler Road. Paving will continue from Butler Road to Nottawa Road. Workers have already pulverized the original roadway in advance of this week’s …

Here’s a look at October’s Fresh Food Distributions in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, hosts the first distribution. It starts at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile, First Presbyterian Church on Lakeview Avenue in Sturgis will oversee the following distribution. It is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday. Railroad Park in Burr Oak hosts the next event. …

A veteran teacher at Congress School in Sturgis was named the recipient of the 2024 John E. Oster Award for Excellence in Teaching. Presented by the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, the award went to Lesley Starkey. Starkey, a Title I special-education teacher, was nominated by her peers. Nominees were reviewed by a committee comprised of community members and Sturgis Public …

Last week’s twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling was on par with the quantity of items collected in previous years. Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said Wednesday’s event generated the collection of 1,267 tires, about 10,000 pounds of household hazardous waste, more than 14,000 pounds of electronics, 3,000 pounds of paint …

Last week I had the privilege to meet with a group of writers. They are not as well known as they should be, but I feel with some experience and guidance, their names will be right up there with Steinbeck, O”Reilly and King. These writers get guidance and support from each other. They all love what they do and I …

St. Joseph County’s new county clerk was sworn in earlier this week. With the September resignation of nine-year clerk Lindsay Oswald, clerk-elect Gina Everson was sworn-in by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman during a brief ceremony Monday morning. Everson, a lifelong Mendon-area resident, was uncontested in the August primary. By virtue of winning that election, Everson was in line to …

A 43-year-old St. Joseph County man was arrested after sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant last weekend in Flowerfield Township. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies served the warrant at a residence in the 15000 block of North Street after authorities investigated activity involving controlled substances. The search yielded an undisclosed quantity of methamphetamine, three firearms and approximately $90,000 worth of …

White Pigeon Township Library made a major announcement this week regarding its ongoing fundraiser for a bookmobile. Director Perri Saunders said the $185,000 goal was met last month. She said the library is still accepting donations and hosting periodic fundraisers for bookmobile support. The truck and trailer are purchased, and awaiting graphics and specialized shelving. Saunders did not indicate when …

Kevin Kroehler, case manager for Sturgis Salvation Army, said the agency is accepting applications from people requesting donated Christmas toys through Nov. 1. The stated wants or needs are picked up by people interested in helping fulfill requests for children whose family is experiencing a hardship. Applicants may apply online at: saangeltree.org, or in person 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. …