St. Joseph County commissioners addressed a number of annual housekeeping items during their inaugural meeting of 2021 Tuesday. The five-member panel agreed to keep their twice-a-month meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Executive committee meetings will also stay unchanged: 8 a.m. the Wednesday before a commission meeting. Also Tuesday, commissioners approved their annual appropriations. …

The initial 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine received by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency are expected to be administered within the next week. Health officer Rebecca Burns told the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday there is a demand for more Moderna vaccine to satisfy the number of people in the highest category of need in the …

Three Rivers municipal officials have announced city hall will remain closed to the public, and employees will continue to work remotely when possible. City officials will remain available by phone or email weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to mail payments or use one of the drop boxes at city hall. Bills can also be …

Andrew Jay Trattles, age 62, of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born in Sturgis on June 1, 1958 the son of the late Elmer and Kathryn (Randel) Trattles. He attended school at the Roys Elementary School, Huss Elementary School, and Three Rivers High School. He graduated with the …

Michigan will begin issuing coronavirus vaccines to seniors and front-line workers such as teachers and police next week, state officials said Wednesday while announcing accelerated access for people who are at least 65 years old. The state had planned to next immunize people 75 and older and essential workers including first responders, prison guards and child care providers. But residents …

John Edward Baker, age 83, of LaGrange, and a former resident of Sturgis, passed away Monday, January 4, 2021 at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange. He was born March 4, 1937 in LaGrange, son of the late Cletus and Evelyn (Parson) Baker. Ed resided most of his life in the Sturgis area and was a graduate of Sturgis High School …

Richard C. Fleckenstein, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, due to failing health over the last year. He was born March 7, 1942 in Kalamazoo, a son to the late Harold and Katheryn (Crane) Fleckenstein. On June 25, 1988 in Lansing, he married Shirley (Skinner) Holcom. Richard retired from Sparrow …

A Centreville resident has been named executive director of the St. Joseph County Commission On Aging. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring announced the hiring of Pam Riley. Riley, whose first day on the job was Monday, replaces Tim Stoll. Stoll resigned in November to oversee Thurston Woods in Sturgis. The 49-year-old Riley was hired …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will see its leadership remain steady in 2021. Commissioners approved Dennis Allen, 61, to continue serving as chair of the five-member board. Allen, a Centreville resident who represents Florence, Lockport, Nottawa and Sherman townships, will oversee the board for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, Kathy Pangle, starting her fifth year as a county commissioner, …

Sturgis officers arrested a Leonidas man after he led authorities on a vehicle pursuit earlier this week. Sturgis Director of Public Safety Ryan Banaszak said officers attempted to stop a vehicle around 4 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of Laura Drive after confirming the vehicle was reported stolen. The suspect continued eastbound into Branch County before eventually losing control …