Louis Dean Hartzell, age 81, of rural Three Rivers, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 at his home. He was born in Vandalia on July 18, 1939 the son of Glenn and Ada (Smeltzer) Hartzell and was a lifetime resident of the area. Raised on a farm, Louis graduated from Marcellus High School. He was employed by Continental Can Company and …

An Indiana man died in a single-vehicle crash Thursday in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 1 p.m. to an area on U.S. 12, just west of Birch Road. A vehicle driven by 63-year-old Douglas Vankirk, of Mishawaka, appeared to be traveling eastbound on U.S. 12. Investigators said Vankirk lost control of the …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel announced Thursday the return of high school sports. Speaking at a press conference from Lansing, Whitmer announced the return to sports will start taking place next week. Indoor contact sports coming back include basketball, ice hockey, competitive cheer and wrestling. Each sport can begin contact practicing, with masks, on Monday. Basketball can begin competition with …

Local Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are appealing to the public for help finding the person who shot and left a button-buck deer in a field near Dauber and Round Lake roads in Noble Township. The location is just east of the St. Joseph County line. A land owner found the buck Monday afternoon and called DNR. The officer …

I am Mr. Chonkums.  I am a super hefty boy  and  I am just looking for someone to love ME!!!  I am about six or seven years old.  I enjoy head scratches and  I want to be close by.   I will need my neuter surgery.  Call to make an appointment to see and adopt me at the St. Joseph County …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is continuing to provide treats, craft kits to-go and exercise classes on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. In addition, the nutrition department frequently provides special treats and cards to seniors receiving Meals on Wheels. Ruth Mancina, COA marketing and life-enrichment manager, said the pandemic has had a major impact on seniors. But, she …

Members of the Constantine Village Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the wording in a recreational marijuana permit application. It is limited to five provisioning centers, three cultivating centers, two microbusinesses, one processing center and no limit on transportation. Village manager Mark Honeysett said the application is straightforward and nearly identical to the village’s medical marijuana permit application. It includes …

Glen Oaks Community College is receiving additional funding from U.S. Department of Education to ensure student education continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glen Oaks will award nearly $290,000 in emergency grants through funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Students must be enrolled in the winter 2021 semester …

A proposal to change the day and time of St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meetings remains in a holding pattern for at least another week. The matter was raised during the board’s meeting Tuesday. The five-member board broached the issue last week after commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said he has a work-related conflict with the second executive committee …

St. Joseph County commissioners made an exception to the county’s hiring freeze and agreed Tuesday to fill the position of chief public defender. The $90,000-a-year position is required by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Its funding is paid through a grant from MIDC. The chief public defender develops, implements, oversees and directs the county’s Public Defender Office, and the indigent-defense …