Community Mental Health is expanding its accessibility to care. The organization, which includes Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County, opened a new Three Rivers location on Tuesday. The new location, at 1020 Millard St., will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Cameron Bullock, CEO of the Centreville-based agency. CMH recently opened a new location …

Ken Malone will serve 2023 as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During their first meeting of the year Tuesday, board members unanimously chose the Sturgis resident as head of the seven-member board. Malone, who has served four years on the county board, is a former mayor of Sturgis who spent more than 15 years on the …

The victim of an early Sunday morning fire has been identified. Travis Williams, age 53, died in the fire. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. Sunday at a sub-divided house on West West Street at North Street. The Sturgis Department of Public Safety said first-arriving firefighters noticed heavy smoke and flames in an upstairs apartment. Upon entry, fire officials …

Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce officials have announced director Roxanne Persing plans to step down in January. Persing, who took over the role earlier this year, has accepted a teaching job with Sturgis Public Schools, chamber officials said. The vacancy nearly coincides with the impending departure of Mike Hughes as Sturgis city manager. Hughes announced in October he would be …

A $50,000 fundraising goal was recently reached by an organization helping to protect the Paw Paw Watershed. Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s Miko Dargitz said the latest drive reached its goal before the Dec. 31 deadline. As a result, it will receive a $50,000 matching grant. SWMLC plans to acquire, protect and steward more than 1,500 acres and 6.5 miles of …

A challenge over water is underway in western Branch County and parts of St. Joseph County based on the habitat of brown trout. A coalition of interested parties called Prairie Water Group is trying to stop the redesignation of the Prairie River from warm to cold, which will result in major economic losses for farmers who irrigate and Branch County. Time …

Plans are again moving forward for the Sturgis splash pad project, delayed by a year due to lack of bids for the project. The city split the project into two segments — a parking lot and bathroom site, and the splash pad itself, to potentially attract bidders. Sturgis Planning Commission members last week heard an update on the project and …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a fatal crash last week in Calhoun County’s Newtown Township. The crash occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. Thursday on B Drive South, near 11 Mile Road. Troopers said a snowmobile driven by a 49-year-old Battle Creek man was traveling south across B Drive South, when it entered a field, struck a rock and lost …

After over 20 years as president and executive director of Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Peter Ter Louw has announced he will be leaving the organization. Ter Louw, whose last day will be Saturday, plans on moving back east to be near family, and to pursue other opportunities beyond Michigan. During his service and time at the helm, Ter Luow has …

Hi there… I’m Diesel. I am a 3 year old intact male. I am a very happy-go-lucky young man, who knows “sit” and “tippy tappy feet” and I’m just a big, happy block head (which is part of my charm). I’m not sure about cats, I haven’t been around them. As you can see, I have on my holiday gear, …