County Information

A grant application for St. Joseph County’s Community Corrections was approved by commissioners Tuesday. The grant seeks nearly $175,000 from the Michigan Department of Corrections. According to Erin Goff, community corrections coordinator, the funding would be put in the agency’s 2019 budget and go toward programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration. Goff said the request is a renewal and …

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a request to fill vacant hours in the Animal Control Department. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the department recently had a support assistant resign, leaving a void of 29 hours a week. Lillywhite asked if 11 of those 29 hours could be reassigned to another part-time assistant position, which would make it a full-time job. …

A Dowagiac man died in a motorcycle accident earlier this week in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 5:30 a.m. Monday to Calvin Hill Street near North Shore Drive. An initial investigation shows a truck was turning out of a driveway to go west on Calvin Hill Street when it was struck by an eastbound …

In a field crowded with worthy nominees, Kelli Lusk stood slightly above all others as the recipient of this year’s, “Jeanette Schirs Recognition of Kindness to Animals” award. Bestowed by the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County, the award was presented to the 31-year-old Sturgis-area resident during the organization’s annual mostaccioli dinner and live auction fundraiser Saturday at Three …

Cases of chlamydia and other sexually-transmitted diseases are rising in the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph County area, according to 2016 data. Lauren Vogel, medical officer at the tri-county agency, said HPV exposure remains the most common sexually transmitted infections, with chlamydia being the most frequently reported disease. Vogel during last week’s department board meeting, said St. Joseph County showed 207 cases reported in 2016 …

March’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was four-tenths of a percent lower than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.7 percent March unemployment rate marked a decrease from February’s 4.1 percent. St. Joseph County was below the state unemployment average, which was 4.6 percent in March. …

Three Rivers Health physicians, leaders and clinicians gathered last week to celebrate the Robert A. Warriner III Center of Excellence award. The accolade was given to Three Rivers Health Center for Wound Healing during a ceremony Friday. The center has achieved patient satisfaction rates higher than 92 percent and a healing rate of at least 91 percent in less than …

A 29-year-old White Pigeon man was arrested after fleeing from police last week. Constantine police said its officers attempted Friday to stop a driver for an equipment violation. The man disregarded police orders to pull over and fled onto Youngs Prairie Road before turning onto Peck Academy Road. His vehicle crashed at the intersection of Peck Academy and Millers Mill …

Two victims of a house fire last week in Mendon Township were migrant farm workers. St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the cause of the blaze might never be known due to extensive damage to the house in Mendon Township. The home was owned by an area dairy farm, according to Lillywhite. Lillywhite said other occupants of the farmhouse …

The St. Joseph County Bar Association has selected Janice Clark, of Michiana Guardianship Services, as the winner of the 2018 Liberty Bell Award. Clark has been providing services to St. Joseph County citizens and courts for almost 20 years. The owner and operator of Michiana Guardianship Services, Clark has worked for the Cass County Community Mental Health system for nine …