(STURGIS) – An Emergency Weather Center has been approved to be open in downtown Sturgis for the coming Winter months.

The Sturgis Planning Commission recently voted unanimously to allow for the EWC to operate at 307 West Chicago Road, which is owned by the St. Joseph Community Co-op. It would be in the lower level of the building.

Co-op Director Krysti Boughton says the EWC would be for overnight hours to assist people who have no place to go to get out of the below zero weather. She says there will be rules for the EWC, which if it’s activated due to the weather, would be open from 6 PM until 8 AM. ...... {LISTEN}.

Last year, the EWC was at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Boughton says there was not a problem with the church, but it was only for one year with the idea of the EWC finding another, more permanent location.

In the 2023-2024 winter season, the EWC was activated for nine days, and averaged 9 people per night.

Boughton says the EWC is not set up to be a place for people to sleep. ...... {LISTEN}.

Boughton says they are working with area churches and other organizations to have trained staff in the building if the EWC is activated. This is being done to make sure there is someone in the building in case there are needs.