SPORTS | A10
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Sturgis Journal
SERVING ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
March
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Latest
U.S. 131
upgrade
underway
By Jef Rietsma
Journal Correspondent
The good news? U.S.
131 through Three Rivers
is going to look awesome
by the end of the year.
The bad news? It’s
going to take all of spring,
summer and most of fall
before the $20 million
reconstruction project is
complete.
Michigan Department
of Transportation officials
said the second phase of
the two-year project has
begun, as if the cones and
portable signs place on
the 2.3-mile route haven’t
been a tell-tale sign.
According to MDOT’s
Nick Schirripa, this sea-
son's work includes
reconfiguring U.S. 131
into a boulevard from
Broadway Street north
to Hoffman Road,
removing the north-
bound M-60 ramp to
West Michigan Avenue,
adding a shared-use path
along northbound U.S.
131 from West Broadway
Street to Arnold Street
and a new sidewalk along
southbound U.S. 131 from
Broadway Street to Kerr
Creek Road.
Construction is
expected to be complete
by Nov. 16.
Schirripa said the proj-
ect will include night and
weekend work. One lane
of U.S. 131 will be open in
each direction throughout
construction.
Access to businesses
will be maintained and
detours designated for
local roads during inter-
section closures.
Schirripa said 2020
construction will be
divided into three stages.
Stage 1: All traffic is
shifted to the southbound
lanes of U.S. 131 while
See U.S. 131, A2
F L AV O R | A 1 4
STURGIS
SWIMMERS MISS
CHANCE AT STATE
FINALS
Volume 160, Number 59
Whitmer: ‘Do not panic’
Governor issues stay-at-home order
By David Eggert
and Ed White
Associated Press
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on
Monday told Michigan resi-
dents to stay at home, in her
most sweeping order of the
coronavirus crisis, warning
that a million people could
need hospital beds if they keep
In wake of coronavirus, child
care brings unique challenge
Anna and Gift work on school work at the table at the Wickey home. With school closures to prevent the
spread of COVID-19, many parents have found various ways to keep their youngsters occupied. [PROVIDED]
By Elena Meadows
Journal Correspondent
With school closures to
prevent the spread of the
COVID-19 virus, many parents
have had to find alternative
options for child care, or get
creative with ways to keep
their youngsters occupied.
Nicholas and Ashley Hull of
Sturgis both remain employed
See CHILDREN, A3
More inside
See a roundup of local
cancellations and policy
changes, page A3.
Classified ..................A12
Comics ......................A11
Flavor ...................... A14
LAURA
KURELLA:
RESTAURANT
FOOD AT HOME
sturgisjournal.com
F O C U S : C OV I D - 1 9
mixing with each other and
spreading the illness.
Whitmer talked about dire
results akin to those seen in
Italy if people don’t follow
her order. COVID-19 deaths
in the state have climbed to
at least 15 and the number of
people infected with the cor-
nonavirus has topped 1,200
since March 10.
Members of Justin and Becca Wickey’s family keep a running list of
creative ideas on a chalkboard at their Sturgis home. [PROVIDED]
Opinion ..................... A4
Sports ...................... A10
Weather ....................A13
Pray.
407 S. Orange St. (Behind KFC) • Sturgis • 269.651.4848 • M-F 8am-5:30pm • Sat 8am-Noon
to our loy
al p
OU
atients.
WE ARE T
EMP
We will c ORARILY CLOSED
emergen ontinue to tre
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2 LOCATI
O
ey may a
rise.
TO SERV NS
JAMIE BAR
E YOU!
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od Ave
855-472 . • Sturgis, MI
-5928
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@sturgisnewsroom facebook.com/SturgisJournal $1.25
“This disease can’t spread any number outside a single
person to person if we’re not household.
out there. ... Too many people “Don’t play fast and loose
are still out and about unnec- with what is essential and
essarily, so we must do more,” what’s not. Don’t try to skirt
Whitmer said. the rules,” said Whitmer, who
The order, which takes added that fines against busi-
effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, nesses are possible.
will prohibit employers from Grocery stores, gas stations,
requiring workers to leave banks and pharmacies will be
their homes unless neces- open, and people can run,
sary to protect life or conduct
minimum basic operations.
walk, hike and ride bikes as
It also bars all gatherings of See ORDER, A2
Business,
agencies
join for
local relief
GT Independence,
community
foundations and
United Way join
forces to support
residents affected
by virus
By Dennis Volkert
dvolkert@sturgisjournal.com
GT Independence has
committed $100,000
to provide relief to the
community of Sturgis
during the coronavirus
pandemic.
Countywide, Sturgis
Area Community
Foundation, Three Rivers
Community Foundation
and St. Joseph County
United Way are collabo-
rating to deliver aid to
residents who are affected
by statewide closures and
restrictions.
With lead support
from GT Independence,
Sturgis Area Community
Foundation has estab-
lished the Sturgis
Community Emergency
Hardship Fund and has
committed an additional
$50,000 to its work.
The new fund will focus
on helping local workers
who have been affected by
community-wide quar-
antining measures. That
includes people who have
lost jobs or working hours
and who have encoun-
tered other financial
hardships due to coro-
navirus restrictions. An
additional $50,000 from
GT Independence will be
set aside for donations
to support community-
based agencies in the area.
“The Sturgis commu-
nity is GT’s home and we
are honored to be able to
serve in this way,” said
John Carmichael, CEO of
GT Independence. “The
goal of the Emergency
Hardship Fund is to
See RELIEF, A2
TODAY WEDN ES DAY T H U RS DAY
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S K E E T