News
Grieving family challenges state drunk driving laws
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
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
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…
Sturgis voters reject school bond request
A bond renewal request for Sturgis Public Schools failed at the May 5 election. According to preliminary results from St. Joseph County clerk, the request was rejected by a vote of 1,501 to 1,277, or 54 to 46 percent. An…
May Election Preview: New transport facility, new tennis complex highlight Vicksburg schools’ $64m bond renewal
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director VICKSBURG — Voters in the Vicksburg Community Schools district will be one of three locally that will be seeking a continuation of millage funding in the May 5 election. On the May 5 ballot, the district…
May Election Preview: Colon schools seek sinking fund renewal for school, infrastructure repairs
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director COLON — Colon Community Schools district voters will have their say on May 5 in whether a measure to pay for long-term building repairs and improvements can continue for the next eight years. On the May…
May Election Preview: Sturgis schools seeking bond renewal for school improvements, new aquatic center
By Robert Tomlinson and Dennis Volkert STURGIS — Voters in the Sturgis Public Schools district will have a say Tuesday as to whether a school bond will be renewed for the next six years to fund a number of school…
‘Clean’ audit report for city of Sturgis
At the April 22 meeting of Sturgis City Commission, Jordan Smith of accounting firm Maner Costerisan presented the audit report of the city’s financial performance for the period ending Sept. 30, 2025. The city received a “clean” opinion, which is…
Citywide spring cleanup to begin next week in TR
City responds to concerns about no curbside option By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Spring cleaning is here in the City of Three Rivers, and a couple of options will be available for city residents as part of a…
Stabbing suspect charged with assault with intent to murder
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
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
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
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…
Out and About: Autism, presentations, and spring
“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
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
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
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
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…
Potential GFL Transfer Station concerns Hayes Township citizens
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
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…
