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St. Joseph County officials agreed to renew a contract with Kalamazoo County for year-round disposal of household hazardous waste. During their monthly board meeting Dec. 19, commissioners OK’d a proposal to continue the arrangement that started in May. County administrator Teresa Doehring said the service is provided to St. Joseph County residents and allows for drop-off of hard-to-dispose-of items such …

Speed was considered a factor in a crash involving a Sturgis man last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 1 p.m. Friday to an area on Birch Road, north of Chapel Hill Street. Behnke said 22-year-old Tyler Meringa was driving north on Birch Road, where he attempted to negotiate a curve …

St. Joseph County commissioners made a number of appointments and re-appointments during their monthly meeting last week. First, appointments were made to the county’s Planning Commission: Greg Dohm, Kathy Pangle, Robert Horton and Rick Shaffer were tapped to serve on the panel. Next, commissioners agreed to appoint Teresa Doehring, Bronwyn Drost, Andrew Kuk and Jessica Miller to the county’s Brownfield …

This is the final column for 2023, so because this year has been filled with so much stress and worry, I’d like to have the column dedicated to items of a less serious note. We are all getting Out and About with family, so I won’t remind you of any special events that might be happening during this holiday season, …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a residential fire in the 600 block of South Park Street. According to an agency media release, personnel responded at 9:25 p.m. Monday. First-responding crews observed fire extending from the first to the second floor on the north side of the home. It eventually spread into the attic. There were no …

A Barry County woman was injured in a one-vehicle crash last Friday in Cass County’s LaGrange Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said 30-year-old Savanna Holder was driving north on M-62 around 11:55 p.m. Investigators said Holder lost control of her vehicle near Cherry Grove Street. Her car left the roadway and struck a tree. She was treated at Borgess Lee Memorial …

The owner of a major shopping center in Grand Rapids has filed bankruptcy. According to WGVU, Woodland Mall is one of 18 shopping centers owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, known as PREIT. Located on 28th Street in Kentwood, Woodland is PREIT’s only property in Michigan. Woodland Mall’s Mary Ann Sabo told WGVU that operations at …

Current and past Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy board members have added another $100,000 toward their joint challenge for SWMLC’s “Force for Nature” membership campaign. The total challenge amount now stands at $250,000 to help build the organizational strength, range and flexibility necessary for SWMLC to keep doing its conservation work of protecting and restoring ecologically important natural areas in southwest …

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW !  I am waiting for snow for Christmas!  I am “Onyx”.  I am a male, bull terrier about two years old.  I was lost in Sturgis and someone brought me into Animal Control.  I am glad to be in a warm, safe place.  My friend “Frank” is still here waiting for his new home also,   My docket …

St. Joseph County officials this week were given a follow-up on a growing homeless encampment in the Three Rivers area. During its monthly meeting Tuesday, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners heard from undersheriff Jason Bingaman. At the board’s Dec. 12 executive committee meeting, commissioner Rick Shaffer raised concerns about the situation – his apprehension centering on whether children were …