Michigan State Police troopers responded to a retail-fraud incident last week in Branch County’s Girard Township. Authorities were called to the Lion’s Den, on Jonesville Road near I-69. Video footage shows a white female in her mid-30s with blonde hair. The suspect was wearing blue jeans with gray thigh high boots and a pink top. The suspect was carrying a …

Lisa Deann (VanScoik) Barnes, age 58, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born February 12, 1962 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Marvin and Wanetta (Postma) VanScoik. Lisa graduated from Three Rivers High School, and later studied massage therapy at Olympia University. She worked for …

Six St. Joseph County firms recently received state-training grants. A total of $39 million in grants from the “Going PRO Talent Fund,” were available, and designed to train and certify new workers. American Axle Manufacturing of Three Rivers received $149,000, the largest grant in the county. Morgan Olsen in Sturgis received $126,000, the second largest. Other local firms receiving grants …

Sophia Ryan, a sophomore at Glen Oaks Community College and Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology majoring in agricultural operations, competed last month in the Michigan Farm Bureau Collegiate Young Farmers Discussion Meet. To compete, Ryan videotaped a 10-minute response to an agricultural-related question. She was selected as a top-four finalist in the state. Ryan then competed in a …

The first medical-marijuana dispensary in St. Joseph County opened over the weekend. The Dude Abides, a medical-marijuana provisioning center at 160 N. Washington St. in Constantine, offers different types of edibles and several varieties of resin. The facility currently is able to serve only to medical-marijuana cardholders, but co-owner Cass Root said plans are in the works to offer products …

Michael Gale Voss, age 54, of Marcellus, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at home, surrounded by his family. Michael was born in Kalamazoo on May 2, 1966; the son of Gale Alden Voss and Patricia Ann Wdowicki. On March 28, 1992, in Paw Paw, he married DeeAnn (Melville) Voss, who survives him in death. Michael was a Lab Technician, …

Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was sentenced to one year of probation and other conditions Thursday. Appearing via Zoom before Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Vincent Westra, the 41-year-old McDonough learned his fate after pleading guilty to the charge of operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired. In exchange for McDonough’s guilty plea, Westra agreed to drop two …

Financial support for sheriff’s deputies to enhance patrol of a major route in St. Joseph County is expected to be approved next week. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard a report from board chairman Dennis Allen. Allen shared that he and commissioner Jared Hoffmaster met Tuesday with members of a traffic-safety committee comprised of Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, Undersheriff …

St. Joseph County officials are expected to debate whether to back a petition that supports high school athletes and their right to play winter sports. With the exception of bowling and swimming, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has imposed a moratorium on winter sports until Feb. 21. Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster broached the subject during the county commission’s executive committee meeting Wednesday. He …

Highland Ventures LTD will begin to liquidate and close its 250 remaining Family Video locations throughout the U. S. by mid-February. The last remaining locations in St. Joseph County already had closed. The Sturgis and Three Rivers Family Video stores shuttered almost six months ago. In November, as Sturgis and Three Rivers closed its stores, Family Video launched a #savethevideostore …