County Information

Sturgis city commissioners and city staff last week mulled a plan to fence in the west, south and most of the north sides of Oak Lawn Cemetery. The proposal has been raised in an effort to reduce vandalism and increase safety. Facilities manager Daniel Root will return with options and commissioners will revisit the matter. The lowest of seven bids was …

Jeremy Gump was recently appointed to the Sturgis Hospital Board of Directors. His term began in March and ends May 2020. Gump said he is pleased to serve on the board, as he acknowledged having a hospital close to home is important to the community. Gump, a member of Sturgis High School’s class of 1991, began his career at Ernst …

The director of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority during a special meeting last week rescinded his resignation. Dave Vago said he signed a letter of resignation earlier this month, but claimed he did so under duress and amid false pretenses. Friday’s meeting drew more than three dozen people and resulted in Vago earning back the post he has held …

Four vehicles were involved in a crash caused by a wrong-way driver over the weekend in Cass County’s Milton Township. The incident was reported at 4:15 a.m. Saturday on M-60 near Reum Road. Investigators said a vehicle driving north in the southbound lane of M-60 struck a box truck driven by 23-year-old Emily Oostema. Oostema’s truck went off the roadway, …

Officials from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Counties Health Department, along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, are encouraging Michigan residents to protect themselves from ticks as the warm weather approaches and tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, are expanding across the state. Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged deer tick. In 2017, there were more than 300 human …

Chris Minger, director of the St. Joseph County Road Commission, has announced he plans to retire at the end of September. Minger began with the road commission part-time in 1971, then was hired on full-time in 1974. By the time of his retirement, he will have served in his current role for five years. Minger said the road commission is in a good spot, with …

A 7-year-old child was rescued from drowning in the St. Joseph River in Mendon earlier this week. State police said troopers were called to assist Mendon Police Department just before 5 p.m. Wednesday to Fremont Street in response to a child who had fallen into the river. The victim fell into the river but was subsequently pulled from the water …

Two Marcellus Township residents were arrested on drug-related offenses this week following the execution of a search warrant. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team was called Thursday to the 14000 block of Dutch Settlement Road in Marcellus Township. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered a sizeable amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, methamphetamine paraphernalia and loaded firearms. A stolen vehicle was located, …

Here’s a reminder that the U.S. Post Office in Three Rivers will be one of thousands across the country to take part in what is believed to be the largest food drive in the nation. The annual National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive will be Saturday. Post office officials are asking for anyone wishing to participate …

A day after his agency’s request for an additional one-quarter of a mill was approved by a slim margin, St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch Director Dennis Brandenburg on Wednesday acknowledged that a lot of work awaits. Brandenburg said his focus for now will center on development of a new communications tower. The agency has a verbal agreement with the …