Three Rivers Area Community Foundation awarded a grant to St. Joseph County this week. County commissioners on Tuesday accepted $5,000, presented on behalf of specialty court financial officer Melissa Bliss. The financial gift will be dedicated to support community corrections and problem-solving courts.

Memorial Day is coming and I had my picture taken with a red, white and blue backdrop.  I hope I will be in a new home by then.  They call me “Mister.”  I am a four and a half year old male, malemute mix.  When on a leash I walk nicely and I get along with other dogs.  My Docket …

Former St. Joseph County Undersheriff Dennis Allen has announced his candidacy for sheriff. Allen, 67, plans to file his paperwork this morning with the St. Joseph County Clerk’s Office. He said he intends to run as a Republican in the August 2024 primary. The position is a four-year term. Allen has been a member of the St. Joseph County Board …

Sturgis Eagles, in conjunction with St. Joseph County United Way, are sponsoring an inaugural, double-elimination cornhole tournament. The tournament starts at 6 p.m. May 25 at 70808 S. Nottawa Road, Sturgis. Cost is $20 per person, teams will be set up through a blind draw, registration starts at 5 o’clock and participants should bring their own beanbags. Boards will be …

A five-acre flower meadow at a Vicksburg redevelopment site is planned as part of a multi-year commitment to establish a flower meadow network. The meadow is on the east side of the Vicksburg Mill property, as well as along neighboring houses along Highway Street. It will consist of wildflowers and brightly colored sunflowers. Project officials said the goal is a …

St. Joseph County Central Dispatch will soon have its own advocate dog. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a request from agency director Stacey Bower. The emotional-support dog will live at Central Dispatch and be cared for by its staff. St. Joseph County United Way has donated $6,500 toward purchase of the dog, which …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the department is staging a grand opening of its new training center. The fanfare takes place 2 to 5 p.m. May 24 at the facility, located behind the county’s former Parks and Recreation Department on East Main Street. By having a modern and spacious training center, the sheriff’s department is able to conduct …

Five appointments to two boards were made by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners OK’d the appointments of Steven Houts and Jeffrey Knautz to the county’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Meanwhile, Jessica Eyster, Jared Hoffmaster and Alan Ives were appointed to the Workforce Development Board.

The end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration will bring changes to the COVID-19 testing services and COVID-19 vaccination scheduling process offered by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, effective May 30. The tri-county health department will discontinue in-person COVID-19 testing at the Coldwater and Hillsdale locations. Self-service kiosks, which offer PCR lab and at-home testing kits, are still …

An annual art show hosted by the Carnegie Center for the Arts enters its final week next week. The 37th “Celebration of the Visual Arts” started earlier this month and concludes May 25 at the downtown Three Rivers facility. More than 1,000 pieces of art are on display from students in grades Young 5s through high school from Three Rivers …