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The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved its budget for 2025. Finance Director Angie Steinman presented a budget of $51.8 million. The General Fund budget totals $22.6 million and requires a tax levy of 4.5162 mills – the maximum allowable under the application of the Headlee Rollback. Steinman said revenues projected for the 2025 are the result …

The St. Joseph County United Way is hoping to deliver gifts to 150 homes in St. Joseph County in advance of Christmas. The Centreville-based agency is accepting toy donations to help meet the challenge. Donations of toys and cash will be delivered to low-income families, and families with children who may not have any other Christmas presents to open Dec. …

Centreville Public Schools has prepared to fill a soon-to-be vacated Career and Technical Education position. During their board meeting Monday, members of the district’s board of education agreed to hire Jennifer Newman to replace Chad Spence as CTE Public Safety instructor. Spence created the program and has served as its instructor since its debut at Centreville High School in the …

Glen Oaks Community College officials made a revision related to eligibility for a pair of scholarships. During their monthly meeting last week, Glen Oaks Board of Trustees OK’d a plan to reach beyond St. Joseph County for potential recipients of the President’s Scholarship and the Dean’s Scholarship. Denise DeVries, Glen Oaks director of communications, said the revision to Policy 3.15 …

Great Start Collaborative and St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Career and Technical Education program have partnered to build Little Free Library stands. Little Free Library stations are typically found in easily accessible locations and are stocked with an assortment of general-interest books. Residents willing to allow a stand in their yard are encouraged to apply. Organizers said 10 Little …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is issuing an appeal in support of its annual end-of-year membership drive. The agency has protected more than 720 acres of important natural areas in the past 12 months, including 457-acre LaGrange Valley Wetlands in Cass County and the 135-acre Good Fire Woods in Paw Paw River’s East Branch. Also, 134 acres and more than one …

Students at Mendon and Centreville high schools last week experienced realistic scenarios that reinforce risks associated with distracted driving and driving while impaired. A pair of simulators that included virtual-reality headsets were set up at each school’s gymnasium by International Save a Life Tour, through Grand Rapids-based Education Systems Support Inc. In Mendon on Wednesday and Centreville the following day, …

A $70,000 federal highway-safety grant has been awarded to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency in an effort to reduce vehicle crashes with Amish buggies. The goal, according to terms of the grant, is to reduce crashes by 15 percent over the next 10 months. Grant coordinator Josh Englehart explained that since 2016, there have been 261 crashes statewide, with 78 …

Personnel from Central Cass Fire Department said a fire that started in a grain bin at Community Mills in Cassopolis earlier this month re-ignited last week Following the Nov. 3 event, insurance company Chubb Agribusiness was on the scene last week to address the issue. According to South Bend’s ABC 57 News, insurance officials on Friday morning drilled into the …

An area high school varsity football team in Michigan High School Athletic Association’s playoffs was defeated over the weekend in a semi-final contest. Schoolcraft High School saw its 10-game win streak snapped and its season conclude Saturday in a 38-7 loss to Monrose St. Mary Catholic Central. The Eagles finish their season with an 11-2 record. St. Mary, meanwhile, is …