St. Joseph County Central’s Dispatch had a demanding year in 2017, marked by failures of equipment, shortage of manpower and a significant amount of overtime. Still, director Dennis Brandenburg, said the agency between 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls fielded more than 96,000 calls last year. The information was provided during a recent annual report presented to the St. Joseph County Board …

An out-of-state resident was injured after he was involved in a three-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 10 a.m. Friday to the intersection of Decatur Road and Kelsey Lake Street, where 19-year-old Jason Thrasher of Jasper, Ind., had failed to stop his vehicle at a stop sign. He was …

Two Niles residents were seriously injured after the dirt bike on which they were riding struck a deer. Cass County sheriff deputies said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Friday in the area of Wells Street and Reynolds Road in Pokagon Township. Deputies were called to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, where two subjects were dropped off by a …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education has approved calendars for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. In each case, the district will begin the school year on Monday prior to Labor Day. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said calendars had been built collaboratively with staff and also after surveying parents of elementary and junior/senior high students. Lemmer said a before-Labor Day start …

Have you ever wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of youth and young adults living in urban areas such as Kalamazoo? GFM The Synergy Center has been doing just that. For over 13 years, GFM The Synergy Center has been the preferred provider of culturally sensitive counseling programs for mental health, substance abuse and support services in …

Margaret Dale Long, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, March 31, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 27, 1938, in LaGrange, daughter of the late Dale and Shirley (Johnson) Machan. Margaret resided her whole life in the Sturgis and LaGrange County area and was a graduate of LaGrange High School with the class of 1956. On …

Randy S. Zickafoose, age 53, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born May 13, 1964, in Sturgis, and resided his whole life in Sturgis. Randy owned and operated G&B Tree Service in Sturgis for many years, a career he truly loved. He was an avid NASCAR and fan of …

Cindy Sue Sussdorf, age 57, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in Battle Creek, MI on July 21, 1960 the daughter of Robert and Carol (Buyce) Weaver Sr. Cindy was a graduate of Mendon High School with the class of 1979.  In 1980 …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission earlier this month discussed the funding the agency receives from the county. The allocation had previously been $191,000 for bridges, but is now reduced to $76,000 and designated for work on bridges and failed roads. The money will go toward the local agency portion of a state safety grant to repair on …

An Indiana man was arrested on drug-related charges this week in Cass County. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, in conjunction with the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department, executed a search warrant Wednesday in the 70000 block of Kenmore Drive. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered methamphetamine, marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. A 41-year-old man from Goshen was charged with possession …