News

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by four-tenths of a percent from September. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.2 percent in September to 4.6 percent in October. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from September to …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of a four-wheel ATV last week from a location in Branch County. According to a department media release, the quad is a green Yamaha Kodiak 700. It has a neon green bear sticker on the center body and a cargo crate strapped to the front. It was stolen around 6 p.m. Wednesday …

Coldwater municipal officials received some good news last week. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Coldwater is one of 11 recipients of funding for local road work. In all, the grants equal $4 million. Coldwater’s share is $375,000, which it will use to resurface Butters Avenue, between Garfield Avenue and Race Street. In addition, the undertaking will include curb and gutter installation, …

A Colon resident was recently appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a state agriculture board. Sara Trattles has been named to the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. The committee develops procedures relating to the state’s soybean-marketing program. It also recommends amendments to the program. Trattles is currently vice president of Agribusiness Lending at GreenStone Farm Credit Services. In addition, she works …

A business-transfer request was postponed recently by Constantine Village Council. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the council fielded a request from Pure Provisioning LLC to transfer the business section of its provisioning operations center to 190 N. Washington St., a relocation from its grow business at 635 Franklin St. Owner Chad Biberstine said the business would be better situated in …

St. Joseph County United Way has opened a family catastrophic fund for the relatives of Victoria Rose Marckini. Victoria, who went by the name Tori, unexpectedly passed away the night of Nov. 25. She was a senior at Three Rivers High School, where she was a member of the Aristocrats and a member of the Teachers Academy. Her goal was …

Centreville Public Schools is giving a $1,000 stipend to its employees next month. The matter was approved by the district’s board of education Monday. Superintendent Chad Brady said the one-time stipend will cost the district about $123,000. The expenditure will come out of the district’s general fund. Brady said a student count greater than projected and solid fiscal responsibility by …

Here’s an update on work being done on U.S. 131 in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties, according to Michigan Department of Transportation’s Christopher Jacobs. Recently completed work includes all hot-mix asphalt paving; placement of shoulder gravel; median guardrail installation; and long-line pavement markings. Over the course of the next three weeks, work crews plan to: continue permanent sign placement in …

Centreville Board of Education took action on a number of items during its monthly meeting Monday. Highlights include the hiring of Centreville alumna Katie Logan as varsity softball coach; and the renewal of varsity coaching contracts for Jerry Schultz, football; Alicia Schmidtendorff, cross country; and Deric Mostrom, volleyball. Board members also approved a travel request for three upcoming events involving …

Southwest Enforcement Team arrested a man during a drug raid last week in St. Joseph County. SWET members conducted the raid Nov. 21 at a Three Rivers residence. The suspect, a 41-year-old Three Rivers man, already had warrants out for his arrest. Detectives found psilocybin mushrooms, hundreds of unknown pills, suspected stolen property, and evidence the man was dealing meth …