Investigators said wood-burning stoves are believed to be the source of two fires Saturday in St. Joseph County. On Saturday afternoon, firefighters were called to 70861 Sevison Road in White Pigeon Township after a report of a pole barn on fire. Authorities were told a family member could see the corner of the structure near a wood burner that was …

Centreville Public Schools and a number of its volunteers were successful in a recent attempt to “Stuff the Bus.” High school principal Chad Brady said the effort was co-organized by the high school’s Future Farmers of America students and its National Honor Society members. Brady and Centreville Elementary Principal Mark VanderKlok joined students and parent volunteers during the Dec. 8 …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District recently awarded a pair of prizes it offered during fair week. Agency director Carolyn Grace said names were collected through the week, with two drawn at the conclusion of the annual event. Katie Walters of Sturgis won a composter, an item donated by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Meanwhile, Three Rivers resident Randy …

The column this week will not contain advice, helpful hints or personal opinions. Instead, I have decided to include things that might bring a chuckle or two. I have a collection of witty sayings and quotes, and I feel it’s time to clear some of my research folders. Church bulletins are great for passing on announcements of coming events. Here …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners is expected to approve a budget of nearly $18 million for its 2019 fiscal year. The preliminary budget was at the center of a public hearing during Tuesday’s final county commission meeting of the year. Officially $17,949,839, the proposed 2019 budget represents a 5 percent decrease from the county’s 2018 amended budget of nearly …

E-911 Central Dispatch will soon have a new communications tower toward the south end of the county. St. Joseph County commissioners this week approved a request from agency director Dennis Brandenburg to enter into a land-lease agreement with the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman’s Club. Brandenburg said central dispatch would like to erect the tower and access drive on …

Reappointments to three different panels were made Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Sturgis-area resident Tracey Parker will serve three more years as an at-large representative on the Animal Control Advisory Board, along with Cathi Abbs of Sturgis. Abbs also will serve in the capacity of at-large member. The nine-member board still has one vacancy to fill. …

My brother, Nick, was adopted last week. I miss my brother.  I am a very nice girl, I walk on a leash and sit nicely.  I am brown and about four years old.  I am a female with a short coat.  I get along well with other dogs and I am housetrained.  I will need my spay surgery.  If you …

A toddler has become the third person to die from a weekend hit-and-run crash in South Bend. Authorities say 17-month-old Isabelle Jasper died Thursday. She was a passenger in one of three cars involved in a crash near South Bend International Airport on Sunday. Police say a Dodge Avenger rear-ended another northbound car, sending that vehicle into southbound traffic. Joel …

Donald R. Hollister, age 87, of Bronson, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at his home. He was born May 26, 1931, the son of Marxal Beryl and Loretta Irene (Walters) Hollister and lived his life in the Burr Oak and Bronson area. On November 23, 1951, in Angola, he married Kathleen Elaine Reed and …