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Out and About – Week of September 28th

Six more aphorisms: A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you’re in deep water. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night? Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without. Scratch …

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Michigan House approves school budget plan

State Rep. Aaron Miller joined the Michigan House of Representatives in approving its plan for the state’s Fiscal Year 2021 K-12 budget. Miller, who chairs the House committee overseeing the state’s K-12 budget, said despite the tight budget year the state faces in the wake of COVID-19’s economic impact, there will be no cuts to the education budget. Every program …

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Sturgis to receive planning award

The city of Sturgis and Beckett & Raeder will be honored with the 2020 “Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach” for the Sturgis community master plan. When updating the city’s master plan, Sturgis officials embarked on what was called an ambitious and many-pronged public outreach program. The city’s demographics had changed considerably over the past decade and there was consensus …

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Pastor who criticized cops loses seat on Kalamazoo board

A Kalamazoo pastor who has criticized police over their handling of protests has lost his seat on a community police review board. Members of the Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeal Board must be “impartial and perform their duties without bias,” City Manager Jim Ritsema said. The Rev. Nathan Dannison’s service won’t be extended when his term ends next week. …

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Monocle Jones

It’s fall and the flowers are calling me.  I purr as I walk.  I want to twirl around your hands and arms.  I am a neutered male and I am housetrained. I get along with other cats.  I am a handsome, loving, gentle, attentive companion.  Call to see and adopt me at the St. Joseph County Animal Control Shelter located …

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Constantine to receive infrastructure loan

The village of Constantine is one of nearly a dozen Michigan communities to receive a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across 28 states. Constantine plans to use a $13.3 million loan to recommission its water treatment facility. Michigan communities are receiving a combined $32 million in loans and about $3.7 …

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Constantine Village Council discusses speed limit petition

Residents of Jeremy Lane in Constantine’s Falcon Cove subdivision submitted a petition requesting the village consider reducing the neighborhood’s speed limit of 25 mph to 15. It also requested the village put an additional speed limit sign on the northbound lane as drivers enter from Timm Road. The request was discussed at Monday’s village council meeting. Village manager Mark Honeysett …

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Fairgrounds host drive-thru event

The second of a two-week “Fair Food Drive-Thru” event begins today at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds in Centreville. Stands will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fair board member Kevin Koski said last week’s three-day event was a success and a new group of vendors – seven in all – will be on hand at this week’s offering. …

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Vicksburg to submit application for Social District

Vicksburg Village Council members have approved submitting an application that, if accepted, would allow the creation of a so-called Social District for an area of downtown. The measure means alcohol can be taken from a licensed, alcohol-serving business to an outdoor area anywhere within the boundaries of the district. Village attorney Andrew Horne said the specific boundaries of the village’s …

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MDOT plans on-time US 131 project completion

Michigan Department of Transportation is projecting an on-time completion date for the $20-million U.S. 131 redevelopment project in Three Rivers. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the agency is zeroing in on a Nov. 16 conclusion for the 2.3-mile project. The redevelopment is in the second of a two-year process. Work this season started March 23 and has included reconfiguring U.S. 131 …

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