Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department have released the identity of the woman who died in a camper fire last weekend in Lockport Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said the victim is 67-year-old Juanita Kimble, a Three Rivers-area resident. Spence said emergency personnel were dispatched late Friday to the 57000 block of Mitchell Street, near the Three Rivers airport, …

Community Action is organizing a diaper drive for eligible St. Joseph County residents. Agency officials ask that anyone interested in receiving diapers to call the Community Action Sturgis Center. Its number is 659-9047. The distribution takes place at 306 S. Nottawa St., in Sturgis. It features a one-month supply of diapers or pull-ups, along with wipes. It also has help …

A Colon resident has been sentenced for embezzling more than $100,000 from customers of a local financial institution. Angela Vanderstraaten, 46, was ordered last week to serve up to 40 years, a sentence issued by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Vanderstraaten previously worked for eight years as a teller at Omni Credit Union in Colon, where she …

Saturday’s chili cook-off event in Three Rivers over the weekend produced a top-three lineup of winners based on a public vote. First place went to the newly opened Farrand Hall, while runner-up was GG’s Cookies. Third-place winner was Daly Dope Dispensary. A field of 10 participants representing Three Rivers-based businesses took part in the downtown-focused event, which was rescheduled from …

St. Joseph County Substance Abuse Taskforce is launching its Methamphetamine Prevention and Awareness campaign. Agency officials said the campaign is an effort to help share education and awareness in the community. Over the course of coming weeks, the taskforce will share posts to help the public understand what meth is and what resources are available. Segments of the campaign can …

Women Infants and Children of Michigan has announced new WIC food packages beginning next month. Agency officials said the changes will include more food choices, better support for healthy eating habits and new options for different diets. For example, more dollars will be available for fruits and vegetables instead of juice; dairy choices will include milk, cheese, yogurt or tofu; …

A Branch County man was arrested last weekend after he was involved in a police pursuit that started in Sherwood Township. Sheriff Fred Blankenship said deputies attempted to stop a vehicle due to an equipment violation shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday. The driver allegedly sped away from deputies. The pursuit concluded a short time later, however, after the suspect attempted …

St. Joseph County Road Commission received confirmation it will receive a federal grant to help cover a project in Constantine Township. The funding is part of a package approved at the federal level Tuesday. The legislation secured funding to help the road commission make improvements to North River Road. The 131 bypass, which opened west of Constantine in 2013, has …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by two-tenths of a percent from November. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.4 percent in November to 4.2 percent in December. The county’s December rate from a year earlier was 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, Cass …

A 57-year-old Sturgis man was arraigned Monday on charges related to multiple counts of criminal-sexual conduct. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said Raymond Bontrager allegedly sexually assaulted a minor from 2016 to 2025, starting when the victim was 6-years-old. According to investigators, the alleged abuse continued until the summer of 2025, when the now-15-year-old victim disclosed the alleged assaults …