County Information

The June unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by three-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.9 percent June unemployment rate was more than May’s 3.6 percent. However, June’s unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percent less than the same …

A countywide effort to assist a benevolent organization netted $9,000 in cash donations during a recent, one-day fundraiser. Over a three-hour period July 23, personnel from almost every fire department in the county joined Walmart stores in Sturgis and Three Rivers, the Three Rivers High School band and Sturgis High School cheerleaders to solicit the money to benefit Habitat For …

A 57-year-old Three Rivers man required medical care after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car in a hit-and-run incident last week in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the man was bicycling south on the shoulder of U.S. 131 around 4 a.m. Friday when his bike was struck near the intersection of Garber Road. The driver of …

A Cass County police agency released the identity of a man who was killed in an industrial accident last week. Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department Chief Timothy Kozal said 32-year-old David Kantz died as a result of injuries he suffered from a machine press at a business in the 69000 block of Kraus Road in Edwardsburg. Kantz, an employee for …

A 33-year-old Colon man was arrested on drug-related charges this week in Three Rivers with the aid of a department K9 officer. Three Rivers police said Brandon Weinberg was stopped Wednesday near the intersection of River and 14th streets for a traffic violation. The officer who initiated the stop was suspicious of Weinberg’s replies to his questions. Furthermore, Weinberg denied …

St. Joseph County United Way Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency is starting to prepare for its annual silent auction at the 2016 St. Joseph County Grange Fair, and the public is being asked to consider making a donation to help the effort. The fair begins Sept. 18 and the auction coincides with the seven-day event. Hostetler said more space …

An Indiana man who was unresponsive after being pulled from Diamond Lake in Cass County earlier this month has recovered and was released from the hospital. Sheriff Joe Underwood said 84-year-old Paul Schafer of Marshall County was pulled from the lake July 22 and taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital. Underwood said Schafer was released from medical care Sunday and …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District agreed during its monthly meeting Wednesday to revise a leg of its river cleanup schedule. Agency director Carolyn Grace said the next cleanup will be Aug. 6, as scheduled. However, instead of completing a stretch of the Rocky River, the focus will center on a two and one-half-mile portion of the St. Joseph River …

A 53-year-old Three Rivers man was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo Wednesday following a two-vehicle accident in Fabius Township. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m., when 85-year-old Lloyd Hagenbuch, of Three Rivers, was driving south on Krull Road and failed to come to a complete stop at the Gleason Road intersection, authorities said. His vehicle struck a pickup …

St. Joseph County’s smallest municipality will take its turn to host an annual community festival this weekend. The eighth Burr Oak Heritage Festival begins this evening and concludes with a community worship service Sunday at Church Park. Organizers said the event kicks off with the return of “Brats and Bingo in the Big Tent” starting at 6 o’clock tonight, while …