(WSBT) — Drivers in Sturgis will have to work their way around road work through part of the summer The Michigan Department of Transportation will repave nearly two miles of US-12 from M-66 to Franks Avenue in Sturgis There will be lane restrictions during the project US-12 will also be closed nightly from 7 p.m - Tea jumped out to a 3-0 lead after four innings and held off a late Sturgis rally to win 3-2 The Scoopers plated two runs in the bottom of the 6th and had the tying run on first base with one out before a double play ended the game Sturgis came back in the nightcap of a doubleheader to beat Douglas on senior night US-12 in Sturgis will undergo resurfacing starting Monday The Michigan Department of Transportation and Lakeland Asphalt Corp will resurface 1.8 miles of US-12 from M-66 to Franks Avenue Traffic restrictions will include single-lane closures between Big Hill Road and South Maple Street This investment is expected to support 17 jobs and improve roadway quality for motorists This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct or share your thoughts at http://bit.ly/3RapUkA with our News Automation and AI team We want your news: How to submit community announcements Highway 385 will be paused for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from Wednesday Highway 44 to Lake Pactola will be a type of sealed rock that resembles asphalt with lane markings painted onto it there will be a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 385 and S.D There will be one and one-half miles of gravel surfacing from Highway 44 to one-half mile north of Silver City Road and a 1,000-feet-long gravel diversion immediately south of the Pennington-Lawrence County line Both lengths of gravel will be treated to control dust Both the sealed rock surface and the temporary gravel surfacing may become slippery when wet Drivers are advised to take care in the event of inclement weather and South Dakota Highway Patrol will be actively monitoring road conditions within project limits for the duration of the Rally The speed limit through the project construction area is reduced to 45 mph during the Rally For those driving through the Highway 385 project the SDDOT reminds travelers to reduce their speed and exercise extra caution to safely manage changing roadway conditions Find additional Highway 385 project information including maps, timelines, and construction updates on the website at https://www.US-385.com For updates on major traffic changes on the Highway 385 project  Temporary traffic signals will be installed at the following locations: The traffic signals will be in full operation from Tuesday 2024 Total Vehicles Entered: 470,987 Vehicles                       Previous Five-Year Average: 488,720 Vehicles Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. VIDEO: Doorbell camera captures truck hitting Sturgis school busby Tylor Brummett | News Channel 3 — New doorbell camera video shows a truck hitting a Sturgis school bus Wednesday afternoon while students were on board The crash happened on Fawn River Road near the intersection of Big Hill Road according to Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Art Ebert Ebert told News Channel 3 that 14 students were on the bus "I'm just glad that everyone's safe," Ebert said "You can see that the bus comes up a bit when it's when it's hit so I'm glad everyone's safe." Fawn River Township resident Ron Rice is concerned because he believes people are driving too fast "Since they've repaved Fawn River Road it's gotten to be like a racetrack and a freeway," Rice said "50 to 55 mile an hour posted speed limits and 65-70 is the norm." Rice told News Channel 3 Friday he's concerned the next crash that happens in the area could be worse "I'm surprised we haven't had more accidents with people trying to turn after the schools let out or the buses are on this road or whatever," Rice said Ebert is encouraging drivers to take it slow "It's better to slow down and to be extra cautious around the buses." Ebert and the Sturgis Public Safety Director told News Channel 3 the investigation is being handled by Michigan State Police News Channel 3 has reached out to Michigan State Police for more information about the cause of the crash “Spring Adventures” is presented by Sturgis Wind Symphony May 4 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.It is the final show of the group’s 2024-25 season.Admission is free.Expected set list: Sturgis Rally businesses and stakeholders are prepared for what could be the largest rally…ever STURGIS, S.D., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 85th Sturgis Rally set for Aug 2025 is potentially going to be the largest rally yet some wonder how the Sturgis City government's recent unrest budget cuts and unprecedented turnover will affect the 85th Rally "The rally is about great parties and riding motorcycles People come here to vacation and escape their local politics and troubles!" Black Hills area businesses are at the helm "What's great about the Sturgis Rally is that no single entity owns it," said Randy Peterson, owner of Sturgis.com the original go-to source on everything Sturgis Rally It's put together by individual businesses clubs and communities all around the Black Hills Each entity puts on their own rally experience to cater to our visitors The Sturgis government is struggling right now A landmark court decision in 2019 stated that "…the jury could not infer from the onerous planning that the City undertakes to provide infrastructure for the rally that the City was the organizer or sponsor of the rally To allow such an inference would be tantamount to saying that it would be reasonable to infer that the City of New York organizes the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly because of everything it does to assist their occurrence… the record does not indicate that the City's involvement in the rally extends beyond the heroic provision of municipal services." "Sturgis is a municipality and by their nature city governments are fraught with politics especially concerning money," said Peterson and we know the city of Sturgis will be fine eventually It's a good reminder for why the rally needs to remain free and in the hands of the rally goers and the people who make it happen The rally is about great parties and riding motorcycles People come here to vacation and escape their local politics and troubles!" Anyone who takes a peek into the region's politics will find that it's not the first time the rally didn't have full City support It's not surprising that locals believe it's risky business letting the government try to decide what's best for the Sturgis Rally "There are people who believe the rally wouldn't still be here if it weren't for the rally's largest promoters like Rod Woodruff The Jackpine Gypsies who started the rally in the first place" said Daymon Woodruff In 1981, the citizens of Sturgis voted to try to end the city's involvement in the rally. Their referendum lost by a slim margin, but city officials kicked bikers out of City Park. This led to the birth of campgrounds outside city limits, like the Sturgis Buffalo Chip the pandemic did affect what would have been a massive 80th anniversary year for the 2020 Sturgis Rally This is one reason why the 85th is expected to be larger than ever Sturgis Rallies see their highest attendance on anniversary years ending in zeros and fives Those who missed out on the 80th do not want to miss the 85th "The 85th Sturgis Rally is likely going to be the biggest we've seen in a long time," said Peterson "Our rally registration program signups are up from previous years and our web traffic saw a large spike after the 2024 rally and into the fall which makes me think this could end up being a bigger rally than the 75th." with web visits to these pages up almost 30 percent in December 2024 compared to November 2024 The largest Sturgis Rally music and motorcycle venue, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip reported a record-breaking on-sale date back in September when they put 2025 passes on sale with no bands or events even announced yet reservations were up 67 percent over 2024 in the first month being on sale "I've not seen anything like it," said Rod Woodruff "To come out of the gate without any entertainment announced and have as many people interested is something we haven't seen before Inquiries for passes to attend the 85th anniversary started coming in half a year before the 84th rally was even under way particularly from folks from other countries who were looking to plan for this bucket list event a year and a half in advance." Even with the Sturgis City government unrest Rally-goers just want to come and have the time of their lives and travelers can be rest assured that Black Hills businesses and communities are more than ready for them About Sturgis.com: Sturgis.com is THE PLACE to find anything and everything Sturgis Rally and the go-to resource for visitors ready to Ride contests and hundreds of other Sturgis events along with a forum where rally-goers can connect About the Sturgis Rally: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the largest motorcycle rally in the world It is held annually in The Black Hills and in Sturgis South Dakota for 10 days during the first week of August It was started by local Indian dealer Pappy Hoel in 1938 private area businesses throwing events such as races 2025 will mark the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Randy Peterson, Sturgis.com, 1 605-641-5655, [email protected], https://sturgis.com/  Do not sell or share my personal information: STURGIS, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is less than four months away and if you plan to go Sturgis City Council eliminated the Rally Events Department last year over budget constraints That has resulted in the city getting back to what city administrator Aaron Jordan calls the basics by focusing on providing a safe and clean community The number of city sponsored events at the rally are decreasing Last year’s rally had 12 city sponsored events while the upcoming rally will have only four in addition to Harley Point band performances Jordan says he doesn’t expect the changes to impact the overall rally experience.adButlerLazyLoad("1033366755067468010",100,["438081","438081","438081"],"177041"); (MITCHELLNOW) The Mitchell City Council will meet at 6 p.m arrested 21-year-old Travis Bullington after a high-speed police chase involving a stolen red pickup truck reported out of Brookings County The pursuit led officers through city streets and into rural Hanson County ending in a cornfield after Bullington rammed two police vehicles SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Board of Water and Natural Resources meeting As warmer weather increases pet and wildlife activity South Dakota health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant about rabies Though cases have declined over the past 50 years South Dakota Housing’s Grants for Grads program is nearing its May 30th deadline offering recent college graduates up to 5% of their loan amount toward a first home purchase Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again HYANNIS — Talk to anyone associated with Noriann Wray and they will tell you the senior at Sturgis East just does things the right way Therefore it comes as no surprise that Wray was this year's recipient of the Dave Whiteside Scholarship of $1,500 and a basketball with the names of the winners who have been honored since it began in 2021 Wray spoke about the honor bestowed upon her "Getting a scholarship is really an honor to help carry on his memory (and) to help memorialize him and all these other people before me She plans to attend UMass-Amherst and enroll in the nursing school was on hand and happy to see everything her daughter has accomplished She goes above and beyond on all the things she does which surprises me because she just gets it done Carly Whiteside helped pick Wray for all the characteristics that the scholarship is looking for and continue in the spirit of the scholarship "I would say hearing about Noriann's ability to lift others around her made her stand out to us and how she's able to play three sports and be dedicated to each of those and give her all to each of those sports," Carly Whiteside said It's clear from her coaches and her teammates that she embodies the dedication sportsmanship that we represent with this scholarship which are the qualities that my father held." Dave Whiteside grew up playing basketball and loved the game During his career at the North Carolina-Greensboro shot 64% from the field and 86.2% from the free-throw line Whiteside led the NCAA Division 3 in free throw percentage (90.9) and led his team to the NCAA Division 3 tournament he was inducted into the UNC Greensboro Athletic Hall of Fame He died in December of 2019 due to a bout with pneumonia his friends got together and formed a scholarship around the characteristics he valued She is the first recipient of the scholarship to be a three-sport athlete She has a keen sense of what this scholarship means and goes off to UMass with a sense of accomplishment "I just think of those before me," Wray said because I just think about how much it means to them to come out here take time out of their day to see me and do this whole thing To have my name on the basketball with all the other girls Adam Kurkjian covers high school sports for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at akurkjian@gannett.com and follow him on X at @AdamKurkjian Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans FDA concluded a 19-day inspection of our Sturgis plant on April 4 and did not issue a single written Form 483 observation This inspection included an investigation of the issues ProPublica alleges were submitted to FDA in its April 4 story The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development concluded a two-day inspection of the Sturgis plant on April 8 related to a similar complaint and likewise did not issue any findings We strongly reiterate our position that the ProPublica story which relied on anonymous sources with questionable motives rather than experts with knowledge and context of our operations and processes we’ve been making infant formula for 100 years and we’re proud of the work that our employees and company do to feed and nourish babies in the U.S We want parents to know that the formula produced at Sturgis and throughout all our manufacturing facilities ProPublica recently published a story about our Sturgis infant formula manufacturing facility that was designed to fuel fear in parents based on questionable claims by anonymous sources the independent third-party food-safety consultancy that monitors our plant Monday through Friday every week said it doesn’t have concerns about sanitary practices in the plant We know infant formula is a personal and critical topic for families We provided significant information in response to her questions Abbott addressed or explained most allegations in the story before it was published We question why most examples in the story were included at all the reporter relied almost entirely on nameless anonymous sources with questionable motives rather than experts with knowledge and context of our operations and processes It is evident that ProPublica’s story was pre-determined before we were contacted they downplayed information provided by the independent third-party expert who knows more about the day-to-day operations at Sturgis than anyone outside of the company itself That’s why we are speaking to parents directly to share the truth and what they need to know: finished product is not released until it passes: We’re going above what is required to make infant formula safely at Sturgis and throughout our manufacturing network because we never want parents to be scared or uncertain of the quality of our products again our employees who work at the Sturgis facility proudly feed our formulas to their own family members We want you to meet a few of them and hear what they have to say about their work Making infant formula is a complex process but reporting fairly and with a balanced perspective shouldn’t be That’s why we are sharing our response to ProPublica below media and other stakeholders have the facts Abbott stands behind the quality and safety of all our products including those made at Sturgis The company had already reviewed the allegations that appear in your questions and had determined that they are either untrue or misleading We also provide important context and details on two of your questions related to quality and ingredients we need to set the record straight on the events of 2022 and what has transpired since In February 2022 Abbott Nutrition voluntarily recalled nearly all infant formula manufactured at Sturgis The Sturgis site had a strong inspection history until September 2021 with zero observations by FDA in 13 inspections throughout the prior eight years (2012-2019) This facility also received a Shingo Prize in 2019 for operational excellence given by the Shingo Institute to sites that demonstrate exceptional culture that foster continuous improvement We acknowledge that every site can improve but we vehemently disagree with the characterization that Sturgis was “egregiously unsanitary” by people who never visited the site Abbott has addressed all FDA observations from 2021 and 2022 there have been no FDA observations or 483s Abbott has taken significant action in Sturgis to address FDA’s concerns the Consent Decree requirements and to further enhance our formulas and support our employees sharing environmental monitoring results and other information and we share finished product and in process testing results every month Sturgis is also subject to ongoing independent third-party quality expert inspections Based on work with FDA and the independent third party Finished product is not released until it passes: and swabbed infant formula manufacturing facility in the U.S. every major infant formula company in the U.S has instituted recalls for Cronobacter sakazakii we believe 2022 did not need to be a crisis of the proportion it was Abbott made 41% less infant formula at Sturgis than it did in 2021 Any assertion that quality is being sacrificed at the expense of volume and profit is patently untrue Abbott had already reviewed allegations that appear in your questions We are addressing two quality-related questions: It’s unclear whether the individuals who have given you information have any direct knowledge or expertise on these topics we have watched individuals use Sturgis as a tool to advance their own agendas gain fame or deflect from their own responsibility or actions The media and others have repeatedly and unquestionably taken these people at face value without scrutinizing their actions or motivations in 2022 media reports perpetuated an allegation that Abbott was testing empty cans of powdered infant formula (instead of cans filled with product) and the source of this unfounded allegation was a former employee without the appropriate knowledge of our quality processes The truth was that we were performing bubble leak testing to check the integrity of the seals of the can and those conclusions unfortunately enter the public realm and often go unchecked and repeated Abbott has a quality policy that we make our products as if they were for our own families If quality were not our first priority Abbott would not still be here at 137 years We dedicate ourselves every day to getting it right That includes the people at Sturgis who have been villainized It’s time to stop giving credence and fame to individuals with questionable agendas at the expense of alarming parents and taking advantage of their legitimate concern for their babies’ health and nutrition they have in the past led to unnecessary infant formula shortages panic buying and public health scares that harm American families We feel we’ve responded to the allegations you’ve shared and demonstrated they are untrue misleading or based on people without knowledge of our processes and who have questionable motivations * Correction: The original post on April 4 2025 in error stated “100 swabs per house” instead of the correct “10 swabs per house.” Please read the Legal Notice for further details all product and service names appearing in this Internet site are trademarks owned by or licensed to Abbott or trade dress in this site may be made without the prior written authorization of Abbott except to identify the product or services of the company Michigan PFAS Action Response Team identified the Sturgis Municipal Wells Superfund Site as a location of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances Quality of the city’s drinking water is not affected by the results of those tests Sturgis Municipal Wells became a Superfund site in 1984 due to groundwater being contaminated by volatile organic compounds The two local properties identified as likely sources were Kirsch Company plant 1 and properly formerly occupied by Wade Electric Cleanup started in the 1990s and has included addressing VOCs by extracting vapor from the soil at the former Kirsch plant installing pump-and-treat systems to treat groundwater and limiting the use of As part of ongoing groundwater monitoring Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy and private parties responsible for the Superfund site sampled for PFAS at both the Kirsch and Wade locations in late 2024.  PFAS are a group of industrial chemicals that have been used worldwide in common consumer products Two of the chemicals are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) Under current Michigan PFAS groundwater cleanup criteria PFOA has a cleanup criteria of 8 parts per trillion and PFOS has a cleanup criteria of 16 ppt seven existing monitoring wells were sampled along with the outflow of a treatment system at the site Other samples for PFOA and PFOS were below Michigan’s requirement including the samples at the groundwater treatment system outflow with one exceeding PFOA criteria at 9 ppt and PFOS criteria at 87 ppt.  All other sample locations tested below the threshold These sites are outside the city’s drinking water wellhead capture zone Following all state of Michigan guidelines the city monitors quality of the municipal drinking water system on a regular basis.  A report out on Friday from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says RV shipments are up more than 15% from last March to this March (WSBT) — Good news and bad news from the RV industry THOR Industry-owned Heartland RV says it is closing its Sturgis 121 workers will lose their jobs when that plant closes June 20th A WARN notice filed with the state of Michigan saying the shutdown is “due to business necessity.” THOR has not confirmed layoffs at other facilities The RV industry has long been considered the bellwether of up and down cycles in the economy -- A Sturgis city councilman is being nominated to join names like John Wayne George Strait and Teddy Roosevelt in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Jim Thompson is a retired rodeo announcer and radio host Newscenter1 spoke with Thompson to hear more about this incredible achievement Jim Thompson’s voice was a staple over the radio and during rodeo events for a half-century Announcing just about every rodeo event there is He's a member of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and Black Hills Stock Show Hall of Fame and is a Tom Brokaw award winner to name just a few of Thompson’s accolades But now he's nominated on a national scale in Oklahoma City and we're talking about primarily Texas and Oklahoma when my name could be brought up around a table of people like that These are my heroes and men that I've announced Although Thompson has been in the spotlight for his accomplishments in his career - he said helping bring rodeo stars and others center stage is what helped him become so successful how do I put those people in the spotlight And I thought that I did that well over those years because I was helping promote young men and women in the sport of rodeo." Thompson said he never thought about any Hall of Fame or similar accolades when he first started "I’d say that you don't start out to be in the hall of fame You start out to do your job well.” When asked about the hard work it took to get to where he is now I realized I needed to relax a little bit." Since retiring Thompson spends his time with his wife and grandchildren and serves as a councilman in Sturgis for Ward 3 6 of the 12 finalists will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and the names will be announced later this year 2025 Sturgis Award recipient – Jonny Gray Phil Gilbert and SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A an associate professor in communication studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale was “really humbled and honored” to learn he has received the 2025 Lindell W A longtime advocate for both the LGBTQ+ and environmental communities Gray said the recognition carries a deeper meaning — an affirmation of the university’s commitment to anti-racism In recognition of his volunteer work to support numerous LGBTQ+ organizations, Gray received the Sturgis Award during today’s (April 17) SIU Board of Trustees meeting the award honoring the late Lindell Sturgis a Metropolis native who served more than 30 years on the board recognizes SIU Carbondale employees for public service unrelated to their jobs “I really loved receiving this award,” Gray said I felt like the work that we do that so many people who I care about do — sometimes seemingly in the shadows without recognition to try and promote the health welfare and safety of people who feel oppressed or otherwise not recognized — felt seen acknowledged and made important to what the university does and I hope it is meaningful to others.” Gray’s involvement includes as founding member and workshop leader with Beloved Puppetistas and the All-Species Puppet Parade; founding member and treasurer of SOIL Sisters/Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; host and archivist of the “Isn’t it Queer” radio program and podcast and as a participant of Gay Spirits of Vision an organization that assists gay and bisexual men in connecting with their spirituality Gray “has long believed that service to one’s community, both near and far, is an essential aspect of personal growth, connectedness to community and building healthy relationships not just with other humans but with the surrounding environment,” Rebecca Walker Anderson, associate professor and director in the School of Communication Studies Gray has been with SIU Carbondale since 1999 he taught at Hofstra University for a couple of years and was a visiting instructor at St This is the third time Gray was nominated for the award He said given the nation’s “current climate,” he didn’t expect to be selected this year “The safe choice would not be to recognize the service of somebody that committed to both LGBTQ and DEI initiatives,” Gray said “There are so many people who do so much good work in the community beyond their employment.” From his work with Beloved Puppetistas and the All-Species Puppet Parade to the weekly hourlong radio show on WDBX and podcast the essential element is communication to all communities It is an essential component and guides much of Gray’s work “The current SIU administration is very good about being connected to Southern Illinois,” he said I want that bond to be as strong as possible I want us to really be connected to our community.” The puppet making program and accompanying parade on Earth Day since 2013 provided six weeks of puppet making workshops and the opportunity for talk about the importance of environmental awareness and stewardship Organizers hope to bring it back in the future The Southern Illinois chapter of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrates diversity and works with other LGBTQ+ community organizations in the region on everything from fundraisers to helping people who are experiencing shame or guilt SOIL Sisters members have helped organize a clothing closet at the Rainbow Café LGBTQ Center in Carbondale to hosting a Sister Story Time series on YouTube where members read affirming stories that celebrate diversity in all of its forms Gray has hosted “Isn’t It Queer,” an LGBTQ+ news and interview program since 2013 The weekly show averages 45 to 48 original episodes a year and Gray said he enjoys being able to connect with the community along with the role the program plays in informing listeners of global and national news and providing a regional perspective as well as helping to debunk false information “We are always there for events and things that are happening and encourage folks to come on,” he said we will do special topic shows that might be of interest and educational to the public,” Gray said he is very thankful that SIU and the state support the LGBTQ+ community The award shows that “we are going to lean into and try to show the value of advocacy for minority populations and at-risk populations — the importance of diversity and resist this banalization of it in an attempt to get rid of it.” “There is a part of me that really feels the charge to live up to and to continue that presence in whatever way the award affords that or in my regular work every day to continue to be the community that we want to be,” Gray said also a professor in the communication studies program View Description 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Student Center The Exchange More SIU Events »Law School Commencement5/9/2025 View Description More SIU Events »Spring Recital View Description More SIU Events »View all Events Email Webmaster Submit an Announcement » Submit a Calendar Event » CEDAR FALLS — The Sturgis Falls Celebration Iowa’s largest free community celebration and music festival Organizers have announced that the primary entertainment traditionally held at Gateway Park will shift to the Cedar Falls Historic Downtown District “This move represents a unique opportunity to showcase our thriving downtown while still honoring the heart and history of the Sturgis Falls Celebration,” said Pete Downs “We’re excited to integrate even more of the Cedar Falls community into the festivities.” Headlining the historic Main Street District Stage will be the Pork Tornadoes Other entertainment will include a Queen tribute band a Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band and a Top 40 cover band While the entertainment is moving downtown the carnival will remain at Gateway Park and the classic car show at Police Officer’s Park All other attractions and activities will remain as in the past: Cedar Basin Music Fest at Sturgis Park near the Ice House Museum 5K/10K road race and the parade down Main Street This year’s celebration will take place June 27 through 29 Entertainment details are available at www.sturgisfallscf.com and www.cedarbasinmusic.org venue information and volunteer opportunities Main Street Stage (West Second and Main streets) Queen tribute band and classic rock covers Heritage Stage (located in Sturgis Park near the Ice House Museum with traditional beer tent and group tent rentals available) – Slim Chance & the Can’t Hardly Playboys NewAldaya Jazz Stage (located at 7511 University Ave.) Louis Stompers (Church Service at Good Shepherd Chapel) – The Saints All-Star Jazz Band (Jazz Brunch) This beer-free venue features local food vendors and a full schedule of entertainment including the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Franklin Street between West 2nd and West 3rd streets The TNT Cheer team performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls Cheer Team performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls High School Marching Band performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls Lions Club rides its 'Bicycle Built for 10' during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls Dance Team performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Children scramble for candy during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Members hang from the Ninja U Obstacle Training Gym float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls Municipal Band performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday A girl blows bubbles from the Cedar Falls Utilities float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday AMVETS Post 49 carries the American Flag during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Grand Marshals Kim and Bob Manning wave to the crowd during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick hands out candy during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Waterloo East High Army JROTC color guard marches during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Second Marine Aircraft Band performs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Western Home Communities float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday University of Northern Iowa mascots TC and TK wave to the crowd during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Friendship Village Communities float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday A firefighter waves from a fire truck during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday People wave from the Cedar Falls High School class of 1969 float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Members of the Ruby Gymnastics Academy perform on their float float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Members of Allison's Dance Center hand out beads float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Members of Allison's Dance Center wave from their float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Waterloo Bucks mascot Bucky waves to the crowd during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Irish Fest float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Bend Humane Society walks with some of their dogs during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday People wave from the Cedar Falls High School class of 1974 float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Members of the John Deere Collector's Club drive their tractors during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday The Cedar Falls Pickleball Club float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday People wave from the Cedar Falls High School class of 1984 float during the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls on Saturday Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Cedar Falls High School Principal Jason Wedgbury resigns 17-year-old Daniel Umemezie was selected as the Iowa Student Poet Ambassador and as the Cedar Valley Youth Poet Laureate will be held in the Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza from 3:30 to 6 p.m UNI art gallery student exhibition continuing through May 16 Vilsack spoke Tuesday to a gathering of roughly two dozen people at an event hosted by the Iowa Democratic Party and billed as a discussion wi… Mariannette Miller-Meeks said Tuesday evening that she is still waiting to hear back about potential job cuts to the Rock Island Arsenal Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Sturgis Farmers Market season opens May 10Sturgis Farmers Market’s 2025 season is about to get underway. It takes place 9 a.m.-1 p.m 27 at Oak Lawn Park. Featured are home-crafted goods and in-season produce. There is a canopy with activities such as chess and checkers. Vendors are welcome and may contact the coordinator on the Facebook page, bit.ly/4iEylQy Musicians and food trucks also are welcome. It is a makers-only market resale items or auction produce is allowed.  Exchange Club Mother’s Day flower sale setExchange Club of Sturgis will hold its 40th Mother’s Day flower sale next week at Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce Chicago Road. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m May 10 (or until supply is depleted). Selection includes hanging baskets Price range is $15 to $30. Proceeds benefit Exchange Club community and scholarship programs.  – An event hosted by Congressman Dusty Johnson to honor Vietnam veterans in Sturgis this week unwittingly revealed the growing division among some veterans in South Dakota and beyond As Johnson told those assembled inside he wanted to make up for poor treatment of veterans in the 1960s and 1970s a group of people outside the Sturgis Veteran's Club protested how veterans are being treated now by the Trump administration and Congress a dozen people carried signs and chanted slogans said widespread employee cuts in the Department of Veterans Affairs are weakening health care for veterans a man entered into an argument with a protester and shoved the 74-year-old man to the ground said Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDerwater a few dozen people gathered for the ceremony led by Johnson He started the event by lamenting how poorly many Vietnam veterans were treated upon returning home after their service but that doesn't mean that it's perfect," said Johnson "If you needed to point to a piece of evidence of that imperfection one place to start would be how we treated people in uniform in the 1960s and 1970s." Johnson said that has changed over time and that American military personnel and veterans are now treated with far more respect and reverence and that "they're more likely to get a round of applause than they are to get spit on." Johnson welcomed about 20 Vietnam veterans or their family members to Wednesday's event Veterans were also handed a microphone to share their stories of service in Vietnam And while a couple remembrances were humorous others were deeply moving and revealed the pride they feel about their service One told how he was greeted in Vietnam by a commander but also by stacks of boxes containing dead soldiers waiting to be flown back to the states The sister of one late veteran told how her brother became a journalist on the front lines in Vietnam and read aloud an eloquent letter he wrote home She said her brother "died twice" from afflictions due to exposure to Agent Orange "This is an opportunity for our country to do the right thing," Johnson said later "I look every one of these veterans in the eyes and I tell them that a grateful nation honors and thanks them for their service." protesters decried efforts by President Donald Trump and his adviser "VA cuts hurt veterans," "Support vets and heroes" and "Veterans deserve better!" The group of mostly gray-haired men and women shouted "Save our veterans," "Hee hee Elon Musk has got to go," "Trump is not our king," and "Show me what democracy looks like." One woman then added so take a good look because it won't be here for long." said she found it "despicable" that Johnson was honoring veterans at a time veteran services are being cut and many veterans are losing their jobs and the Republican-controlled Congress is doing nothing to stop it "Veterans are starting to wake up and notice that they can't get that appointment that they need that they can't get that treatment," said Renaud who said she is a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe a Vietnam-era Army veteran and a retired police lieutenant there's a sign over there about the Veterans Crisis Line and at the same time they have slashed mental health services for veterans Johnson said he supports the ability of the protesters to exercise their First Amendment rights to criticize the government He said he had not spoken with the protesters but is monitoring the cuts and proposed cuts to the VA to ensure medical care and other services are not impacted Actions by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency already have led to the firing of a few thousand VA employees and the suspension of hundreds of contracts for services The AP reported on March 5 that an internal VA memo announced a major reorganization this summer that will cut 80,000 more jobs from the agency that provides health care and other services to millions of veterans More than a quarter of the VA’s workforce is comprised of veterans and veterans made up nearly a third of the overall federal workforce which has seen dramatic job cuts under the Trump administration Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has said the job cuts are not in mission-critical positions and that veteran care would not be affected one Vietnam veteran who was being honored by Johnson shared his concerns that staff and funding cuts to the VA could harm the ability of sick or injured service members to receive the care and services they need who said he served in the Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1970-77 spoke up about VA cuts when Johnson handed him the microphone "I'm very pleased with the care I've gotten at the VA," Orr said do what you can to restore the funding and personnel to the VA." "I've never heard there was a surplus of staff at the VA," a comment that drew applause from ceremony attendees Orr later told News Watch that he has seen VA services slipping for some veterans he knows and is worried that any position program or funding cuts could make it even harder for them to receive care Orr said he felt it was a "conflict" for Johnson to lead a ceremony honoring veterans while the president and Republican leadership in Congress have or will cut the VA budget and staff "I'd say it's a lack of critical thinking," Orr said wrote in an email to News Watch on March 24 stating that the agency does not intend to cut positions in medical care "We’ve put out a target number and set up a structure for beginning the planning process of reforming the department but we haven’t made any of those personnel changes yet," Kasperowicz wrote "We’re going to run through a deliberative process and find ways to improve care and benefits for veterans without cutting care and benefits for veterans," he wrote "We’re not talking about reducing medical staff or claims processors, we’re talking about reducing bureaucracy and inefficiencies that are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans." Johnson said he is friends with VA secretary Collins they have discussed how the VA is being managed and together have called out the Trump administration when the cuts "are not the right fit." Johnson said the White House has been receptive to their concerns and suggestions "Congress hasn't and will not cut VA funding There will certainly be some efficiencies that are found as we work together but those efficiencies are going to be reinvested in the system," he said and we know that no front care or provisioning staff have been cut There have been some positions eliminated that we've got some concerns about We're asking some tough questions to the (Trump) administration (because) we need to get this right." Johnson told News Watch he wasn't sure how many VA positions have been cut in South Dakota so far but his understanding is that it is not a large number The South Dakota VA health system includes hospitals in Sturgis Hot Springs and Sioux Falls and outpatient clinics in nine cities across the state Johnson said he and other members of Congress have spoken to agency heads Cabinet secretaries and the White House to stay abreast of DOGE actions and cuts there's a lot of change coming at us very quickly We know that nobody's going to bat 1,000 and it's part of our job representing South Dakota to make sure that when the administration has a misstep that we do what we can to get them back on the right track." This story was updated March 24 with comments from a VA spokesman The Associated Press contributed to this story that was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when they're published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org nonprofit organization reporting untold stories that help South Dakotans be informed and engaged citizens South Dakota News Watch produces investigative and public service journalism that sheds light on the issues Sign up below for our free email newsletter delivered every few days with an easy-to-read summary and link to the full story STURGIS — A road resurfacing project in Sturgis begins next week which will include detours and lane closures for some parts of a major thoroughfare in the city Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers along with Lakeland Asphalt will be resurfacing 1.8 miles of U.S The $1.8 million project will involve hot-mix asphalt cold milling and resurfacing 12 between Big Hill Road and South Maple Street as well as between Jacob Street and Broadus Road A portion of the road between South Maple Street and Jacob Road will be closed in both directions at night for a one-week period between 7 p.m with the dates of the closure to be announced 12 traffic will be detoured during the project using Franks Road while M-66 traffic will be detoured on West Lafayette Street Work is expected to be completed by Thursday — Consumers Energy has been hard at work restoring power to its customers after severe storms knocked it out on Sunday evening across Michigan just over 2,000 customers in the state remain without power and those crews will stay here until our customers are restored and life in Michigan is back to normal," Greg Salisbury vice president of Electric Distribution Engineering for Consumers Energy residents in Southwest Michigan's rural areas have been waiting for days to get their power back who lives on Prairie River Lake in Sturgis Federlick has lived in her home on the lake for over 25 years She has been without power since Sunday night and told News Channel 3 she has received different answers from Consumers each time she has asked when the power will come back "I called Consumers with my concerns that they have 92% of the electricity restored," Federlick told News Channel 3 earlier in the afternoon there's more people out of service." Consumers has efforted power recovery in southwest Michigan as well as in the northern part of the state as they have dealt with historic ice storms Consumers called it a top-10 storm in the company's history As more storms are expected to hit Southwest Michigan again on Wednesday evening Federlick worries about being put on the backburner we're just kind of an afterthought," Federlick said "I don't like being an afterthought." The biggest economic driver for the city of Sturgis ended in a mixed bag this year City communication director Deb Holland said they’re expecting a strong sales tax showing “It’s exciting to know that it’ll be on par or even above last years numbers," Holland said we’re just looking forward to increased attendance next year and planning accordingly that we’ll have bigger numbers next year.” Holland said anniversary years are generally bankable as large draws “The 80 was kind of a wash because of the pandemic so we’ll look forward to more people for the 85," Holland said "I do monitor some of the Rally Facebook groups and some people said I’m not going to come this year I’m going to save my money and come for the anniversary year we do have some anecdotical information that people didn’t come this year but will come for the anniversary year.” this is a down rally for overall traffic compared to the five-year average on the other it was up over 2023’s numbers Holland said the tally of vehicles isn’t necessarily a window into overall visitation but no it’s one vehicle crossing a road counter entering the city of Sturgis," Holland said it might be a car with two or three people in it.” the state Department of Transportation tallied about 471,000 vehicles entering the community A drop of about 3% over the five-year average — Parents at Sturgis Public Schools are protesting a student-based clinic that recently began operating in one of the district's elementary schools The Student Help & Healing Center opened at Eastwood Elementary School on Monday parents were never informed the clinic was going to be moved into the elementary school "It was stated by the superintendent they did not plan on telling us until it was up and running so its very concerning," Metzger said Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Art Ebert owned up to not properly informing parents before the clinic opened we just didn’t want to overwhelm the clinic," Ebert said "But in retrospect we probably should have said 'hey not quite ready yet but this is coming.'" Eastwood's Student Help & Healing Center operated at the elementary school in 2021 Ascension Michigan and Henry Ford Health entered into a joint venture the lease for the Student Help & Healing Center expired Sturgis Public Schools worked with Ascension Michigan and Henry Ford Health to transition the Student Help & Healing Center to the grant-funded health center at Eastwood the clinic is expected to offer same-day appointments for services such as annual physicals Metzger and other parents have voiced safety concerns over the clinic being located inside an elementary school “Not only are all these random people in the school but you have got 20 and 21 year olds that do not need an adult to take them in there," Metzger said Ebert told News Channel 3 the clinic will have strict safety measures in place to ensure students safety This includes running background checks on all visitors once they hand over their license giving patients visitor badges to wear at all times and having staff members escort patients to the clinic “Safety is the most important thing to us," Ebert said "I would like to talk with parents more so can set their mind at ease.” there is a growing need for a facility of its kind in the area “We don’t want the clinic to go away in rural areas like Sturgis there at times can be a lack of health facilities," Ebert said She sees the convenience of having a clinic on site as a benefit for both students and the community I don’t have to worry about making doctors appointments and same thing with my other son that is a fourth grader here," Batten said a benefit of having the clinic on-site is the ability to get ahead of illness and injury “So when students are in class or at recess with parent consent they can come and get treated," Ebert said Sturgis Public Schools needs to find a medical partner by the end of the academic year for the clinic to remain operational If the district doesn't find a partner they'll have to close the clinic's doors Besides the Student Help & Healing Center one other grant-funded health center can be found at Sturgis' Medical Commons on Chicago Road – On a recent drive through this super scenic area of the Black Hills Ron Waterland saw with his own eyes the potential risks bikers will encounter when riding on gravel sections of U.S 385 during the upcoming 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Waterland has a cabin near Silver City, in the heart of the ongoing U.S. 385 construction project winding two-lane highway even less safe than usual during the Aug Waterland drove from his home in Sturgis to his cabin and a light rain broke out he saw two motorcyclists who had wiped out on a section of gravel road that will be in place before as their large touring bikes packed with gear lay on their sides “They were really disgruntled,” Waterland said Sign up to receive our stories as soon as they are published Waterland is an experienced biker and former Sturgis City Council member who led the annual Mayor’s Ride along U.S He is one of many rally veterans who are concerned that parts of U.S 385 – the only major north-south highway through the central Black Hills – will consist of sections of gravel during the event that could draw a half-million bikers to Sturgis and its environs and it’s not a good place to ride a motorcycle through right now,” Waterland told News Watch “It (the gravel) presents stability issues for people traveling through that area and they’re going to take more of a risk than usual.” The South Dakota Department of Transportation has embarked on a $72 million project to rebuild 15 miles of U.S but one that also has a rate of crashes and fatalities that is double the state average The highway is the main link between popular destinations of Sturgis Custer and Mount Rushmore National Memorial on the south The two-lane highway winds around the scenic lakes of Pactola and Sheridan and along giant rock outcroppings and dramatic ridge lines And it helps fuel a regional tourism industry that brought $2 billion in revenue to South Dakota in 2021 In the five-year period from 2018-2022 along the route A third of those wrecks and most of the deaths occurred when motorists left the roadway which in spots has almost no shoulder space while closely abutting rock walls or rimming atop significant dropoffs smooth out sharp curves and add turn lanes to make the road safer for travel The DOT’s goal is to cut the crash rate on the segment of highway by 50% expanding sight lines for motorists or expanding shoulders from 2 to 8 feet which has a proven success rate in reducing runoff wrecks The DOT issued a news release on July 12 indicating that U.S. 385 will be open to traffic in both directions during the remainder of 2024 Construction work on the project will be paused from July 31 to August 12 to accommodate the event the DOT project website also said the speed limit will be reduced and the road will consist of sections of a “loose gravel surface” until late 2025 and that lane restrictions will cause delays of about 15 minutes in the area from Pactola Dam roughly to Silver City Road Two DOT engineers – Todd Seaman in Rapid City and Bruce Schroeder in Custer – said in an email to News Watch that they believe the gravel sections of U.S 385 will be safe for rally bikers if they follow traffic laws travel the posted speed limit and ride within the range of their experience level The engineers said the highway will have a "blotter surface" in place from state Highway 44 south to Pactola 385 north of Highway 44 will be a gravel surface treated with magnesium chloride which helps tamp down dust and can firm up the road surface twisting section of gravel surface just south of the Pennington/Lawrence county line where a culvert is being built The engineers noted that U.S. 16 west of Custer had a gravel surface during the Sturgis rally a few years ago and did not create any safety issues. They urged people with questions about the U.S. 385 construction project to visit the state project website or sign up for text message updates by texting "us385" to 605-566-4041 The highway construction and the gravel surfaces prompted the city of Sturgis to re-route its annual Mayor's Ride which typically takes a large group of bikers from the rally headquarters south on U.S 385 to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and then to Custer State Park for lunch "Bikers hate gravel," said Sturgis city spokeswoman Deb Holland that they’re going to lose it because the gravel is not sturdy enough." Holland said the 2024 Mayor's Ride will go instead to the Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming and finish with lunch at a restaurant in Belle Fourche "We've been talking for a year about how we had to adjust," Holland said "The city recognized it early and wanted to plan something that wouldn't take us right into the belly of the beast." Holland said the city estimates attendance will be fairly low for the 84th annual event this year, about 450,000 to 500,000. Prior reporting by News Watch showed that attendance in 2023 was about 458,000 and that rally organizers are working to find ways to maintain or increase attendance Holland said the inaugural flat track cycle races planned for a route through downtown Sturgis on Sunday should give the 2024 event a nice final-day boost of interest and attendance Holland said Sturgis rally bikers know that there are a few places where gravel is likely to be present and that they must be more careful in those areas She said a few campground entrances can pick up loose gravel and noted that the Fort Meade Way backroad to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip has been gravel for years though it has been treated with magnesium chloride and has become firmer over time While urging riders to use caution during the U.S Holland said she doesn't think the project will reduce rally attendance or dramatically change how bikers behave or where they ride during the event it’ll just be a blip or a thorn in our sides,” she said and in the long run I think everyone will appreciate what the state is doing to improve safety." A 2016 article in "Rider Magazine" spoke to the uneasy feeling many bikers get when they travel on gravel "Why is it we get so uptight when things get loose underfoot (or under tire "Because things feel a little weird and unfamiliar on dirt The motorcycle moves around more beneath us on unpaved surfaces the front wheel seems to wander and the handlebars come alive in our sweaty palms." has been riding motorcycles since he was a boy and continues to do so as a recreational rider and also as a cycle test rider for Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City Doyen said gravel surfaces reduce traction for a cycle and limit the control a driver has while moving He said gravel can be managed by going slower and being more careful but that without a doubt the uneven surface creates more hazards for bikers it can really grab your front tire," Doyen said Gravel also creates challenges when turning because even a few stones that accumulate where the gravel meets pavement can add risk while turning or even while stopping "One little rock can be like a ball bearing or a marble," Doyen said "You put your foot down and your foot will slide right out from underneath you." Doyen looked down and shook his head while recalling the time a biker friend tried to stop on a gravel surface and his foot splayed outward That caused the bike to fall and his groin area to split open resulting in a painful surgery and recovery "That's a tough spot to get injured," he said "It was gross because he had to change the dressings four or five times a day." Waterland said the current gravel surface on U.S 385 is tricky to navigate for experienced riders but can be extremely hazardous for inexperienced bikers and I’ve ridden on muddy roads in the rain without a problem,” he said Waterland added that while many rally riders have logged many miles behind the handlebars there’s always a good number of Sturgis visitors who are new to two-wheel travel “I think there’s more inexperienced riders than you would think during the rally,” he said and it’s pretty easy for them to go down.”  This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org.  the community of Sturgis has been wrapped in governmental turmoil Now two more city officials have tendered their resignations The change in government format in Sturgis paired with the now-well publicized local budget crunch has proven chaotic for the community’s government Council member Mike Bachand read a list of no fewer than 15 resignations or retirements across city hall from the legal and rally departments to the previous two mayors “And I am resigning this evening,” Bachand said This comes following the Monday resignation of Mayor Angela Wilkerson Wilkerson's official statement reads “When we lost our mayor in February of 2024 we were bound by state law to appoint a new mayor Already in the midst of a huge transition with no city manager I was willing to take on the role due to a sense of duty a duty I felt to keep my promise as a member of City Council,” she said Former council member Bachand said he plans to be involved in city government following the decision I wish you all well," Bachand said "We’ll see what the new council does I’ll be back sitting out there as soon as we start coming up with the school property Special elections in Sturgis are scheduled for early December Sturgis is currently without a mayor and two elected city officials — Authorities are investigating a theft incident that occurred Saturday Michigan State Police troopers responded to a retail fraud at the Dunham's located in Sturgis Two subjects entered the store and gathered multiple items of clothing The estimated value of the stolen merchandise is around $300 Anyone with information is asked to call the Michigan State Police Marshall Post at (269) 558-0500 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Here are some of the top performances from the past week or so in the area Check out some of the best performances from last week below I am trying my best to get this updated on a weekly basis and I think the best option moving forward is to have a top performances story for as many sports as I can Many of you know that and you can reach me by the email address listed as the end of this story There were several strong performances from the Sturgis girls track and field team this week Hannah Garbine and Keyanna O'Tey posted a time of 50.66 seconds Kinder Smith and O'Tey is one of the best in the state for D2 as well at 1:45.48 Eleena Kelley won the discus with a personal best distance of 126 feet Kenzie Eicher won the long jump with a personal best at 15-5 feet Tessa Hatt won the mile (5:38.30) and the 800 (2:34.30) Addison Eicher ran to first in the 100 dash (12.93) and Sydney Bir won the 400 at 59.92 seconds Bir then ran to first place in the 400 at Byron Center on Saturday with a time of 59.25 seconds The Colon softball team four of five games last week sweeping Camden Frontier plus beating Athens and Union City Alyssa Hess won four of those games from inside the circle striking out 24 hitters over her time on the mound with 17 total runs driven in during those five games Jaci Borgert totaled 10 hits with eight runs driven in Rylie Kyle collected seven hits and six RBI during the week The Bronson softball team beat up on Maple Valley Each of the Viking pitchers threw three inning no-hitters as well Ashlynn Harris struck out eight in the first game Madison Shaw struck out seven in the second Braelynn Gimenez homered twice in the first game she totaled five runs driven in in the two games Delanee Carpenter and Aurora Deck-Phair each had three hits while Kalyeah Shoup drove in three runs in the second game White Pigeon beat Lawrence a couple of times last week Brody Block and Clayton Grandstaff combined to strike out 26 hitters Block allowed one hit in his start with 17 punchouts Grandstaff struck out 11 and did not allow a hit in five innings of work Three Rivers won five out of six games last week split with Coldwater and then swept Dowagiac as well Three Rivers scored 42 combined runs in those games The pitching was solid with the Cats getting wins from Kaleb Williams Peyton Hradsky and Gabe Young — they combined to register 25 strikeouts Young also recorded seven hits in the games Colon baseball teamThe Colon baseball team beat up on Athens last week Ayden Delp blasted a homer and had three total hits with four runs driven in Collin Trattles and Jeremiah West each had three hits as well with four RBI Colon's pitchers combined to strike out 13 Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com With months of turmoil in Sturgis city government some citizens are actively seeking to recall the current mayor The main issue stems from her appointment following the prior mayor’s resignation After former mayor Mark Carstensen’s resignation earlier in the year and change from the city manager format Sturgis continues to grapple with the changes in local government That has led a cadre of citizens to call for the ouster of new mayor Angela Wilkerson who was appointed to the role earlier this year who says that appointment symbolizes the root of the concerns He describes Wilkerson as a holdover of the previous government “Ignoring public outcry for a mayoral election the outgoing city council instead appointed our current mayor who was a staunch loyalist of the former city manager and his policies in my view as a way to entrench an opposition party the citizens had soundly rejected," Davis said "What we’ve seen since is that the citizen’s elected representatives have been continually obstructed by the former city managers remaining loyalists.” two members of the Sturgis administrative team have stepped down This comes as the local budget crunch threatens some local government positions That doesn’t mean the mayor is without support in the community though like longtime state employee and Sturgis resident Brandon Snyder He questions some of the tactics used by opponents of Wilkerson "Mayor Wilkerson didn’t step into the role of mayor for prestige or personal gains she does not make enough as mayor to be dealing with the challenges the community currently faces She has even recommended a pay cur for her position Disagreement is a natural part of democracy Wilkerson was not present at the most recent Sturgis City Council meeting by Donny Ede and Tylor Brummett| News Channel 3 — A woman is in custody after her two-year-old child died in Sturgis Township Thursday Joseph County Sheriff's Office responded to the Memory Lane Trailer Park for an unresponsive toddler at around 12:47 p.m Attempts to revive the child were unsuccessful An investigation lead investigators to take the mother of the child “My heart goes out to everybody that’s surrounded by this case," St Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said "This is a sad tragic situation that did not have to occur and unfortunately there’s a loss of life of a young person and that’s troubling.” Bohne's charges were later upgraded to open murder Residents at Memory Lane Trailer Park told News Channel 3 they were stunned when they heard the child died "I wish she would've sought out help before this would've happened," resident Thomas James said "There's a lot of people she could've resolved instead of going about that."