During their executive committee meeting last week, St. Joseph County commissioners heard that Sue Eickhoff, judicial secretary for judge Jeff Middleton, is retiring in late January. Court administrator Tab Wedge said Middleton will need to move forward and begin finding a replacement, a process that should start sooner than later. At least a month of training with Eickhoff would be …

Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers is offering free rides to polling places Tuesday. Dubbed “Souls to the Polls,” the free-ride program is available noon to 6 p.m. and transportation can be arranged by calling 757-894-8996. Facemask compliance will be required and CDC guidelines will be observed. Meanwhile, the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is also offering free transportation to …

St. Joseph County undersheriff Jason Bingaman last week explained details of a service-agreement renewal with Canteen Food Service. During Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Executive Committee meeting, Bingaman said the company provides food for jail inmates and the proposed agreement is nearly identical to the most recent contract. He said per-meal cost is $1.61 if the jail population is 114 or …

A few personnel matters were addressed this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners first heard from Friend of the Court Bill Thistlethwaite. He reminded them of his impending March retirement to cap off a career that spanned more than 30 years in St. Joseph County. Thistlethwaite said he and deputy …

Members of the Constantine Fire Department responded Wednesday to a structure fire in the 600 block of East Water Street. The fire was reported to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch shortly after 10:30 p.m. Chief Mike Haydon said the homeowner smelled smoke and found the back porch on fire. He attempted to put out the blaze with a garden hose …

Two high-traffic, public places in St. Joseph County are closed temporarily. Sturgis District Library announced Thursday it is closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The library reported it is working with local health officials, and conducting appropriate cleaning and disinfecting. Reopening date of the library is not immediately known. The library’s doors were locked Thursday, with a sign …

After closing the six-game regular season with it first victory of 2020, Three Rivers High School’s varsity football team begins its playoff march tonight. The Wildcats topped Allegan, 27-to-6, a week ago to finish the season 1-and-5. Three Rivers will travel to Hastings to take on the Saxons. Hastings has a 5-and-1 record and is coming off a 37-to-18 victory …

St. Joseph County commissioners are relying on the services of architecture firm TowerPinkster to help with the task of renovating the county’s courts building and, county officials hope, improving conditions of the 46-year-old structure. During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Teresa Doehring provided an update. She said interest rates are around 2 percent, an attractive figure that Doehring said …

Michigan State Police troopers responded to a report of several vehicle break-ins earlier this week in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. The incidents occurred in the 200 block of Northlake Drive and the 500 block of Pinehill Shores between 10 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday. Several items of value were taken from multiple vehicles, authorities said.

St. Joseph County school superintendents and Intermediate School District officials have expressed concern about the rising COVID-19 cases locally and what that could mean for area schools in coming weeks. In St. Joseph County, Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said Tuesday the number of cumulative cases has surpassed the 1,000 mark and the number of deaths has risen this week …