News

Members of the Constantine Village Council are studying a proposal to ban assault weapons. No mention was made at last week’s council meeting regarding a problem with such weapons within the village. Police chief Mark Honeysett said a memo regarding the matter was included in council packets for review at the request of village president Pat Weiss. Weiss was absent …

The city of Sturgis is considering a new contract with the Sturgis Neighborhood Association that will increase the city’s annual financial commitment to the housing non-profit by more than $35,000. City Manager Mike Hughes endorsed the new proposal, saying the local private, non-profit group provides valuable services that improve the city’s overall housing stock and bring abandoned properties back on …

A state-administered survey found that people who had dealings with St. Joseph County courts this year are satisfied with the experience. Using a survey conducted in courts statewide, the 45th Circuit, 3B District and 75 Probate courts asked questions about their level of satisfaction with court services. Across the board, court users said all of the county’s courts were accessible, …

St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Director Jaymes MacDonald said he plans to work on the creation of a bike trail at the county’s premier park. He said the plan for a trail up to 12 miles long at Meyer Broadway Park is being studied. The trail would be created specifically for use by mountain bikes. MacDonald said if plans …

Members of the Constantine Village Council were given an update earlier this month regarding negotiations with the city of Three Rivers about sewage-treatment operations. Attorney Scott Smith led the update but details were not disclosed when the board reconvened following a 60-minute closed-session discussion. Constantine pumps its sewage to the Three Rivers wastewater treatment plant in accordance to a contract …

The Leo Club, a high school service group hosted by the Sturgis Lions Club, was recently chartered into the national organization. The group needed at least 35 high school members in the Leo Club to be considered for the charter, said Frank Iannarelli, president of Sturgis Lions Club. That goal has been reached and there is one honorary member, Abdiel …

Future city of Sturgis employees will have new pension rules designed to reduce the city’s future pension costs. Under the proposed amendment to city ordinance, new hires beginning Jan. 1 will have to work 10 years, rather than the current eight, to be vested in the municipal retirement plan. In addition, the city is expected to begin requiring all new …

A 43-year-old Cassopolis man has died in a one-vehicle accident in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called around 1 a.m. Wednesday to Dutch Settlement Road, east of Lawrence Road. Investigators said the vehicle was traveling east on Dutch Settlement Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. Deputies attempted to revive the subject …

M-66 in Sherman Township was closed for about two hours this week after a semi tractor-trailer lost its load of lumber. Sheriff’s department officials said 51-year-old Bryan Wolfe of Saginaw was driving south on M-66 around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, when he stopped to avoid a traffic backup near Hackman Road. His load of lumber broke free and crashed through the …

A pair of Sturgis service organizations teamed up earlier this month to continue a longstanding local holiday tradition. Members from Sturgis Elks and the city’s Kiwanis clubs joined for the annual “Boots and Shoes” giveaway. The Elks club provides children with either a new pair of shoes or boots with footwear provided at cost by Willer’s Shoes in downtown Sturgis. …