Recent Posts

Mendon hosts community forum on bond-renewal proposal

Mendon Community Schools Superintendent Leasa Griffith said the district is hosting a community forum tonight to discuss an upcoming bond-renewal proposal. The meeting begins at 6 o’clock in Mendon High School library. Griffith said discussion will center on the needs of the schools’ facilities and grounds. She said the renewal will not raise taxes, but, if approved, would generate approximately $20 …

Read More »

US 131 project update

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 hot-mix asphalt leveling and top course, right lane and shoulder application northbound; strain pole foundations chipped down at the northeast quadrant at Main Street; restoration work northbound and southbound; and northbound ditching …

Read More »

Centreville Schools approve bus purchase

Centreville Public Schools has approved the purchase of a used bus. During its monthly meeting Monday, the district’s board of education acted on the finance committee’s recommendation to buy the 77-passenger bus, manufactured by the company Thomas Built Buses. It features underbelly storage. Superintendent Chad Brady said the $79,000 purchase is being made with Grand Rapids-based Hoekstra Transportation. Brady said …

Read More »

Passenger dies in Cass County crash

The passenger in a vehicle being pursued by authorities died after it crashed into a tree over the weekend in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were advised shortly before midnight Sunday that officers from Nappanee Police Department were in pursuit of a vehicle reported stolen from Elkhart County. Nappanee Police terminated their pursuit when they lost …

Read More »

State unemployment increases

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September increased by two-tenths of a percent from the previous month. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show the state’s September unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. The August rate was 3.7 percent. The state’s county-by-county unemployment figures are expected to be released this week.

Read More »

Sturgis farmers market to move

Sturgis city officials recently approved a measure that will see a new location for the city’s weekly farmers market. The move will put the farmers market at the north end of Oaklawn Park effective in 2024. It was previously held in TSC parking lot. The market has traditionally been held Wednesdays and Saturdays, May through October. It typically has up …

Read More »

County commission makes board appointments

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made three appointments during their meeting last week. Luke Lori was added to the Community Corrections Advisory Board in the capacity of a term that expires at the end of the year. He is the son of former, longtime sheriff Matt Lori. Meanwhile, Randy Chupp and Rick Anderson were appointed to the St. Joseph …

Read More »

Court program grants approved

State-issued grants that help cover expenses related to various court programs were approved last week by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Community Corrections Director Melissa Bliss said the grants are: $130,000 to Circuit Court for the Michigan Drug Court program; $160,000 to Circuit Court for the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation program; $16,000 to District Court for its Drug …

Read More »

A mild winter is forecast for Michiana

The 2023/2024 Winter Outlook has been released by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center! With El Nino expected to continue through the winter, it’s not surprising to see that we are leaning towards below normal precipitation and leaning above normal temperatures across portions of the Midwest.  (NWS)

Read More »

Out and About – Week of October 23rd

We have a lot of construction going on in our neighborhood. A new house, several doors down, is almost completed. Our next door neighbors will soon be having their house improved with a lot of remodeling. It’s fascinating to watch construction, especially knowing that we’re not paying for it. A bonus for us is that our property value will probably …

Read More »