News

A new director for the St. Joseph County Conservation District was named this week. The employment of Carolyn Grace, a Three Rivers resident and former teacher at Hoppin Elementary, was approved by the conservation district board Wednesday. Grace, 50, has a degree in environmental education. She previously was employed as program director at YMCA Camp Eberhard following a 20-year career in …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved filling the position of Geographic Information System cartographer. The opening was created by virtue of a resignation. In another matter during Tuesday’s meeting, the five-member panel approved the hiring of a probation officer, as Jon Marcus has announced his resignation effective Aug. 29. The position pays $38,000 and it is to be …

The Deer Forest Exotic Animal Sanctuary in southwest Michigan is closing at the end of this season. The announcement was made Tuesday morning, a day after an arrest warrant was issued in Illinois for Jon Stolarz, one of the park’s operators for failing to appear in court in that state in an animal cruelty case.  He and his wife blame …

  The courts building of the St. Joseph County Courthouse will soon receive attention in hopes of a remedy from perpetual humidity. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday agreed to a $13,000 expense for the architect and engineer firm Tower Pinkster. A separate arrangement for $2,300 was reached with HVAC contractor C.L. Mahoney Co. of Kalamazoo …

  The Constantine Police Department is assessing damage, as vandals struck a variety of locations in the village Sunday morning. Constantine’s Little League fields suffered the worst of the damage; several buildings were damaged with paint. A park on Water Street also had paint and other damage. Residences on Mill, Station, Depot, White Pigeon and Meadow Lane also were damaged …

A lighthouse near Mackinac Island is available for purchase.  The latest bid for the Round Island Passage Lighthouse was $20,000, as of Tuesday. The sale began Monday with an opening bid of $10,000.  The Detroit Free Press reports the online auction is open to nonprofits only who must register to bid.  The building with a 71-foot tower is on state-owned …

Dozens of snapping turtles have hatched at an Ann Arbor-area veterinary hospital after their pregnant mother was found injured in a mall trash can.  The Ann Arbor News reports 28 baby turtles were born this week after spending 75 days in an incubator at Emergency Veterinary Hospital Ann Arbor.  A worker emptying trash cans discovered the 1- foot mother turtle …

  A $550,000 state grant has been awarded to Postle Operating in Cassopolis for an expansion project that will create 40 full-time jobs during the next two years. State Rep. Matt Lori said the Michigan Strategic Fund has awarded the Community Development Block Grant for job training to the company, which produces extruded aluminum products for recreational vehicles. Postle Operating …

  A Sturgis business was at the center of attention Monday, as state and local officials visited Cobalt Holdings. Led by Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant, the team of officials met with Cobalt president Bruce Bart and toured the facility. Their visit was a part of Gov. Snider’s recycling program. Cobalt’s main product is crumb rubber. Created from …

A Kalamazoo native fell to his death at Rio Grande National Forest in La Jara, Colorado last week. Investigators say 22-year-old Dylan Jarsma was taking photos at Rio Grande National Forest Friday at about 1 p.m. ET when he fell 200 feet near a waterfall and was killed instantly. Jarsma and his girlfriend,Taylor Whisman, who witnessed the fall, were moving …