The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants to ensure drivers and their passengers are safe year-round, especially including the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There were 513 passenger-vehicle occupants killed in vehicle crashes across the nation in 2018. Two recent trends have sprung from the Thanksgiving holiday: “Blackout Wednesday” and “Danksgiving,” both trends that highlight and even encourage the heavy consumption of …

Timothy Paul Reardon, age71, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Tim was born in Flat Rock, MI on July 24, 1948, a son of Howard and June (Ciccotte) Reardon. He attended Flat Rock Schools and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. On May 8, 1971, he married …

A 19-year-old Colon man was arraigned Friday on a charge of open murder in the death of 55-year-old Todd Schwartz, also of Colon. Ethan Dingman is being held without bond. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said Dingman made a call to 911 shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday to alert authorities to the situation. Schwartz’s body was found in a …

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 1 percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.7 percent October’s unemployment rate marked an increase from September’s 3.7 percent. St. Joseph County was above the state’s unemployment average, which was 3.5 percent in October. Employment rose, …

A Mendon man was arrested last week on traffic- and drug-related charges. Sheriff Brad Balk said the man was in a car pulled over for an equipment violation around 2 p.m. Friday on M-66 near Hackman Road in Burr Oak Township. During the deputy’s investigation, the driver was found to be operating the vehicle without a license and had put …

St. Joseph County is home to two state championship teams following action over the weekend. Colon High School won the 8-man Division 1 football championship Saturday at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette. The Magi topped Suttons Bay, 26-14, in front of hundreds of Colon fans. The win caps off a 13-0 season for fourth-year head coach Robbie Hatten …

A 55-year-old Colon man is dead following a shooting that is being called a homicide, according to authorities. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of South Blackstone Avenue. A suspect was in custody before the end of the day. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said the suspect could be charged as soon as today. …

Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Old M-205 and Cassopolis Road. Deputies said 65-year-old Cassopolis resident William Thorley was driving south on M-205 when an oncoming automobile crossed the center line and collided with his …

The Salvation Army of Kalamazoo is in need of at least six volunteers per shift to help with its 2019 Thanksgiving distribution next week. Volunteers are needed Tuesday. They will be completing boxes with perishable food items and may be asked to assist clients with their boxes. Volunteers must be able to lift 20 pounds. There are two shifts available: …

A pickup was stolen earlier this week from a location in Burr Oak Township. Michigan State Police troopers said the vehicle, a 1993 Ford F250, was stolen between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Tuesday from the 63000 block of Needham Road. The truck is described as dark green, with a large blue-and-white “Ford Racing” emblem on the hood.