Grieving family challenges state drunk driving laws

Grieving family challenges state drunk driving laws

Editorial Staff May 6, 2026 4 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt One year ago last month, the Seifried family of Allegan County experienced the worst kind of tragedy possible: the loss of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia Iris. On April 26, 2025, a drunk driver plowed into their front…

Local caterer donates 500 books for library book sale

Local caterer donates 500 books for library book sale

Editorial Staff May 6, 2026 3 min read

Thanks to an extremely generous donation by local caterer Dorene Serbenski to the Friends of the Paw Paw District Library, the May 14-16, 2026 book sale at the Library will feature a wonderful selection of over five hundred cookbooks from…

Ribbon cutting held for Maple Lake pedestrian bridge

Ribbon cutting held for Maple Lake pedestrian bridge

Editorial Staff May 6, 2026 1 min read

A ribbon cutting was held Saturday, May 2, for the new Maple Island Bridge. The new bridge is 200 feet long and was designed by Abonmarche Engineers and built by Riverworks Construction. It replaces a bridge that was built in…

Historical Notebook: ALBION 100 YEARS AGO: MAY, 1926

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 5 min read

By Frank Passic             We continue with our theme of “Albion, 100 Years Ago.” May 1, 1926: Chris Petroff, proprietor of the West End Grocery, 619 Austin Avenue, has purchased the grocery of Charles Sprague, 306 Crandall St. Mr. Petroff…

Stabbing suspect charged with assault with intent to murder

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 1 min read

By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Jackson Police Chief Christopher A. Simpson announced that officers responded to a disturbance at 145 W. Morrell St. April 29, at approximately 11:05 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found two injured adults — a 31-year-old Jackson…

Hayes Hotel legal battle continues

Hayes Hotel legal battle continues

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 5 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer The fate of the Hayes Hotel has been in dispute ever since the contract with developer J. Jeffers & Company expired Dec. 31, 2024. The Jackson City Council then sold the hotel to another developer,…

Right Trees, Right Places: Expert Help and a Call to Action

Right Trees, Right Places: Expert Help and a Call to Action

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 5 min read

By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Albion’s trees are coming down from multiple directions. The city is culling aged and dangerous trees along boulevards and in parks. Windstorms have snapped trunks in wooded neighborhoods. Warmer winters are allowing insects and diseases…

Beneath Albion: Sewer Study Reveals Scope of Aging System and Cost of Repairs

Beneath Albion: Sewer Study Reveals Scope of Aging System and Cost of Repairs

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 3 min read

By Maggie LaNoue Contributing Writer Every day, nearly three million gallons of water flow into Albion’s wastewater treatment plant. The problem is that only about half of it should be there. Albion’s pump stations move roughly 1.4 to 1.5 million…

Golf Roundup Sturgis breaks three-year losing streak in County Cup

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 4 min read

STURGIS — The Sturgis Trojans boys’ golf team won their County Cup golf match against Three Rivers Wednesday afternoon, scoring 5.5 to the Wildcat’s 2.5, breaking a three-year streak by Three Rivers in the match play competition.Gavin Lewis won five…

Softball Roundup Three Rivers rolls past Niles on road

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 9 min read

NILES — Three Rivers’ softball team had no issues with Niles on Tuesday, sweeping the road doubleheader by finals of 12-1 in five innings in Game 1 and 10-0 in Game 2.In Game 1, the Wildcats got seven runs in…

Out and About: Autism, presentations, and spring

Out and About: Autism, presentations, and spring

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 2 min read

“I will have no man work for me who has not the capacity to become a partner.” -J.C. PenneyAutism is a developmental disability. Autistic children and adults have differences in social communication and interaction and exhibit restrictive or repetitive patterns…

Board gives preference for funding of Doyle roof project

Board gives preference for funding of Doyle roof project

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 3 min read

Sturgis City Commission on April 22 gave a consensus to pursue a private placement bond to repair the roof at Doyle Community Center.In January, city staff asked for direction and the commission’s recommendation was to proceed with a “metal roof…

Menards closed indefinitely to repair tornado damage

Menards closed indefinitely to repair tornado damage

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 1 min read

PHOTO BY ROBERT TOMLINSON,CAPTION BY JORDAN WILCOX | COMMERCIAL NEWS The Three Rivers Menards store at 1001 Warner Drive remains badly damaged nearly two months after an EF-2 tornado ravaged the area on March 6.The store held a partial reopening…

Harrington departs from Sturgis City Commission

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 1 min read

Linda Harrington has resigned from Sturgis City Commission.Harrington, a representative of the city’s 3rd Precinct, submitted her resignation earlier this month, and announced on April 22 it would be her final meeting as a member of the board. She did not…

Monday windstorm knocks out power to 6k in county

Monday windstorm knocks out power to 6k in county

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 2 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Over 6,000 people in St. Joseph County were without power because of a windstorm that rolled through Monday afternoon.According to Indiana-Michigan Power, heavy rains and strong winds reaching around 67 miles per…

Harrison baseball splits with Gladwin

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent HARRISON — Harrison’s baseball team split with Gladwin April 28, losing the first game 9-1 and winning the second 6-5.In the first game, Kegan Chaskey pitched 3.2 innings for Harrison. Parker Latunski took the loss, giving up…

May I Walk with You? AN ACT OF LOVE

May I Walk with You? AN ACT OF LOVE

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 3 min read

Why do we take care of a disabled or elderly friend, spouse, or family member? The answer is simple, because we love them. In my work as a psychologist, I have never been more impressed than when hearing the stories…

Potential GFL Transfer Station concerns Hayes Township citizens

Potential GFL Transfer Station concerns Hayes Township citizens

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 7 min read

By Genine Hopkins The regular Hayes Township meeting held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, drew a full house of over 50 people including special guests, in response to the potential GFL Transfer Station that would be built adjacent to the…

Harrison siblings charged with Conspiracy, Medicaid Fraud

Editorial Staff May 1, 2026 3 min read

Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Wednesday, April 29, 31-year-old Steven John Caplan and his sister, 35-year-old Kayla Marie Earls, both of Harrison, were arraigned in 54B District Court in East Lansing.According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the siblings are accused…

Saugatuck scores victory over archrival Fennville

Editorial Staff Apr 29, 2026 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorFENNVILLE—Rivalry matches tend to bring out tight, competitive play.And the girls soccer matchup between Fennville and Saugatuck on Monday, April 27, was no exception.In the end, it was visiting Saugatuck that came away with a 3-1 win,…

HOME FOR SALE
1984 Victorian manufactured home. 2 Bd, 2bth, 2 outdoor porches, 10'x12' 3 season room. All appliances and some furniture included. New flooring throughout, new window coverings, new interior paint throughout, 2 new toilets, generally good condition.
Royal Estates Mobile Home Park. 6253 Overdale Manor Rd., Kalamazoo, MI
Asking price- $55,000
Please call: 925-775-8315

VEHICLE FOR SALE
2017 Ford Escape, Titanium w/EcoBoost/AWD. 90,300 mi, Grey, all 4 new tires.
Asking $13,990
Call Steve at 925-775-8315

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified and licensed architectural firms to provide comprehensive architectural and engineering services for an interior renovation project at the Rivers Enrichment Center located at 1200 W. Broadway Street Three Rivers, MI 49093.

The selected firm shall provide full professional services necessary to produce complete, coordinated, permit-ready and bid-ready construction documents, and to support the COA through permitting and construction bidding phases.

Proposals must be received by Wednesday, June 26, 2026 by 2:00pm EDT. Bid documents may be obtained by contacting the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging. The COA reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

All communications regarding this RFP shall be directed to:
Pamela Riley
Executive Director, St. Joseph County Commission on Aging
Phone: (269)279-8083 Email: priley@sjccoa.com