County Information

A church in Sturgis sustained fire-related damage last week. Sturgis firefighters arrived shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday at Potter House Church, 210 E. Congress St., and found smoke coming from near the chimney on the west side of the building. Crew members entered the attic area and found flames in an outer wall and attic space near the pastoral office. …

A 19-year-old Sturgis woman escaped injury late Wednesday after the vehicle she was driving struck a utility pole on Fawn River Road near Franks Avenue in Sturgis. Police said the driver lost control of the car after becoming distracted, causing it to leave the road and collide with the pole. She was taken to Sturgis Hospital for treatment.

Constantine boys’ basketball coach Chuck Frisbie was named Associated Press Class C coach of the year. In his first season as the team’s coach, Frisbie turned around a program that went 1-19 a year ago to 21-3 this season. The Falcons won the KVA league title and had a deep run in the postseason. Frisbie gave credit to his players …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit last week executed a controlled buy of pseudoephedrine pills in the 21000 block of Michigan Avenue in Park Township. SCAN officers received information about a subject selling pseudoephedrine, which is the main ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. After purchasing the pills from the suspect Wednesday, the suspect and his passenger …

The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by 1 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 5.2 percent January unemployment rate was more than December’s 4.2 percent. January’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.9 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Board of Health has released its “Certificates of Excellence” in food service report for 2014. Award recipients represent food establishments that were able to meet stringent criteria during the year. Ninety-six tri-county food service establishments, including restaurants, bars, catering kitchens and schools, received this year’s award. Schools in St. Joseph County to meet the …

St. Joseph County deputies responded to a stolen vehicle complaint last weekend. The owner of the truck said a blue, 2000 Ford F-150 was parked in his driveway Saturday night and it was discovered stolen Sunday morning. The truck has front- and passenger-side damage from a prior crash. It has Michigan license plate CDJ4297. The truck was last seen in …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced passage of a budget to fund State Police operations by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police. Miller, chairman of the subcommittee, said the panel reported a $612 million budget to fund the law-enforcement agency. Miller said the plan ensures the continuation of vital public-safety programs that have resulted in lowering crime rates in …

A local business owner, members of a family farm and a panel of elected officials were recipients of awards presented Wednesday by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Jeff Pant, owner of Fawn River Kayak Guide and Rental, was named the conservation district’s volunteer of the year. Henry, Ricardo and Martha Miller, of Florence Township-based Villa Miller Farms, were recognized …

State Rep. Aaron Miller announced this week that a state grant has been awarded to reconstruct a portion of Wade Street in Sturgis. Miller said the Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded a $259,000 Transportation Economic Development Fund grant for work on Wade Street from South Centerville Road to a location just east of Clark Street. The roadwork will accommodate …