News

For the eighth consecutive year, members of the Three Rivers Fire Department will help bring cheer to the community with the Firefighters For Santa program. Lt./paramedic Dave Crampton said firefighters will deliver food and gifts from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to various locations in the city. Funded through donations from such local businesses as Meijer and Armstrong International, and …

Thirteen people will be required to attend a show-cause hearing after not appearing Wednesday in accordance with their jury summons from St. Joseph County Circuit Court. The Jan. 8 hearing is meant to send a message that prospective jurors take seriously their obligation to the court system, according to Kathy Griffin, circuit/probate courts administrator. A trial related to a case …

Midwest Energy Cooperative has provided Centreville High School guidance counselor Sarah Dickman a grant of $1,800. The Strengthening School Grant will be used to introduce formal Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics curriculum for the junior high students to use in their science exploratory. The curriculum is through Project Lead the Way, which is the nation’s leading STEM program in activity, …

Glen Oaks Community College’s 50th anniversary celebration came to a close earlier this month with a final event. Faculty and staff gathered at the site of the new flag plaza for a dedication ceremony that included placement of a 50-year anniversary time capsule in the brick plaza. The capsule contains an array of items from throughout the year, including the …

State police are conducting an investigation after three Branch County residents recently overdosed on synthetic marijuana. According to a department media release, two incidents occurred Sunday in Ovid Township. One of the two men remains in critical condition at Borgess Hospital, the other was treated locally and released. Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man overdosed Monday in Batavia Township. After he was …

The village of Constantine was awarded more than $20,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as part of its Recreation Passport grant program. The village was one of 33 recipients from a field of 45 applicants to receive a portion of the $1.3 million available for recreation-related purposes. Funds are made available through the $11 annual pass residents purchase …

State Rep. Aaron Miller and former state Reps. Matt Lori and Rick Shaffer gathered at the Capitol Tuesday to say goodbye to retiring staffer Susan Martin, who served as legislative aide to all three lawmakers during the past 13 years. Miller commended Martin for the hard work she has done for the people of the 59th House District while working …

Carol Brooks has been named the 2015 recipient of the John E. Oster Award. Brooks, who was honored this week at a meeting of Sturgis Rotary Club at Sturges-Young Auditorium, has taught at Sturgis Public Schools since 1988, the past seven years as K-2 physical education teacher. The John Oster Memorial Fund was established in 1981 by JoEllen Oster, John’s …

Sturgis firefighters were dispatched to ACM Plastics just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from roof vents at the north end of the plant. All employees existed safely. Due to heavy smoke, crews used a thermal-imaging camera to direct the fire-fight. Damage was contained to a malfunctioning mold heater, while the building sustained …

Contracts with six of the county’s nine unions were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The three-year contracts apply to the District Court Employee’s Association, the 911 Telecommunicators’ Association, and AFSCME groups with the circuit court, probate court, friend of the court and general unit. In all, the contracts affect about 75 people. Terms of the …