On the heels of two ceremonies last Friday, St. Joseph County’s 11-year sheriff Brad Balk was recognized by members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, who approved a proclamation in his honor during their meeting Tuesday. Read by longtime friend and board chairman Dennis Allen, the proclamation cited Balk’s start as a road patrol deputy – Allen paused …

A Fabius Township storage facility was burglarized within the past week. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 14000 block of M-60 in response to a breaking-and-entering situation. Investigators found that the suspects forced entry to the facility as well as several storage units. The incident occurred between Friday last week and Monday this week.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently awarded 20 Rural Development Fund Grants statewide, including one to a community in St. Joseph County. The grants are designed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities. MDARD Director Gary McDowell said funds will be helping to develop or support everything from infrastructure and …

Three Rivers Community Schools was the third district in the county over the past two weeks to call off classes for at least a day due to a larger-than-usual number of student absences due to illness. Superintendent Ron Moag said the decision to close Monday was based on the inordinate number of absences last week. Specifically, students as well as …

Following the death of a woman and her 16-year-old daughter last week in a fire in Fabius Township, the family has released a statement. Michelle and Cheyenne Bixler died in the blaze at their home on Harder Road. Three other children in the home were able to escape safely and were taken to Three Rivers Health. “The Bixler family has …

A Sunday morning fire injured one person at an apartment complex in Centreville. Centreville fire chief Dave Miracle said the department was dispatched at 10:43 to Mill Race Manor apartment complex on East Main Street. Miracle said the fire spread quickly through a portion of the complex. When crews arrived, they observed smoke emitting from the window of a unit. …

Webb Miller was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. A caring nurturer, he cherished his years as a father and was delighted with the arrival of his grandchildren and great grand children. Living his life to the fullest and enjoying the company of each and every person who came his way, he leaves behind a wonderful example of accepting all …

Barbara May Nicholas, age 82, formerly of Mendon, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Galesburg following a long illness. She was born in Kalamazoo on Oct. 30, 1937 the daughter of John and Genevieve (Smith) Hiatt. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with the class of 1955. Barbara was married to Maurice Nicholas on May …

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was one-tenth of a percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.3 percent unemployment rate in January was down from December’s 3.4 percent. St. Joseph County was slightly below the state’s unemployment average, which was 3.5 percent in …

A vehicle left running in Yoder’s Country Market parking lot in Centreville was stolen last week. Sheriff’s officials said deputies were called at 5:10 p.m. Thursday in response to the incident. The vehicle is a dark-green Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The pickup has a salter on the back that possibly blocks the plate. The plate number is CLB452. In addition, there’s …