A unique training opportunity later this month in St. Joseph County will combine air and ground emergency responders for a mock, multi-vehicle, crash-response simulation. The exercise will involve a multi-vehicle crash, with a responding helicopter for getting patients to definitive care as quickly as possible. In addition to West Michigan Air Care, participating fire departments will be Three Rivers, Centreville …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses as well as suspected stolen property. State police troopers stopped a vehicle pulling a trailer Tuesday on U.S. 12 near Fiske Road after noticing an equipment violation. Troopers discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen from Steuben County, Indiana. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Union City, and the passenger, a 36-year-old woman …

Niccole M. Nathan, age 40, of Vandalia, passed away from a long-term illness on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Cass County Medical Care Facility. Niccole was born in Niles on November 8, 1980. She attended Constantine High School, graduating in 1999. She then went on to study Accounting at Western Michigan University. Niccole previously worked as a teller for the …

Natalia Halina Winnicki, age 85, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Three Rivers Health. She was born November 13, 1935 in Chicago, the daughter of John and Alice (Shunka) Snawadzki. Natalia was studying to be a nurse when she met and married James A. Winnicki, Jr. She became a mom shortly after, going on to have and …

St. Joseph County received the first installment of its American Rescue Plan allocation Tuesday. County finance director Angie Steinman informed commissioners during their meeting Tuesday that the amount totaled $5.9 million. County officials have been told to expect a total of nearly $12 million. Steinman said she will await direction from county treasurer Kathy Humphreys to decide in which fund …

A few minor details were resolved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. A motion to approve what is labeled the L-4029 millage request was approved. The measure was necessary because it allows the county to levy the full 7.8575 mills to which it is entitled in order to collect property taxes. Equalization director Josh Simmons said the …

A dump truck collided with a semi tractor-trailer in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were dispatched at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday to the area of Michigan Avenue and Parkville Road. Investigators said a dump truck was traveling south on Parkville Road when its 78-year-old driver, a Constantine resident, failed to stop at the Michigan Avenue intersection. The dump truck …

Douglas Elden Keeslar, age 65, of McPherson, KS, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021, at McPherson Hospital. Prior to retirement, he had worked at Central Plastics as an extruder operator. Doug was born on April 14, 1956, in Salina, KS, the son of Elden R. and Phyllis J. (Miller) Keeslar. He graduated from Burr Oak High School in Burr Oak, …

An 18-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested last week after fleeing at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour from police in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies attempted to stop the driver shortly before 7 o’clock Friday evening on M-216 near U.S. 131. Authorities noticed the motorcycle was being driven at a high rate of speed. The …

A divided Vicksburg Village Council voted last month to prohibit smoking in the municipality’s newly created social district. By a 4-3 margin, council members agreed to prohibit smoking in the specially marked areas. The measure means anyone who wishes to light up must do so somewhere outside the boundaries of the social district. The matter arose in April, when a …