County Information

St. Joseph County was in the bottom third in the state in two health-related categories, according to results from a study released last week. The fifth annual County Health Rankings from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute were released showed St. Joseph County was 60th overall in health outcomes and 59th overall in health factors. …

A collection of trash in Constantine Township’s Mill Creek turned out to be a methamphetamine dump site. Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit were called Friday to Brick Chapel Road and spent several hours picking debris from the water. Sheriff’s department officials had received a tip about suspicious items found in the creek. Police determined several items …

The Sturgis City Commission has a vacancy to fill following a resignation announced last week. Mike Wilson has moved out of the city’s Third Precinct, making him ineligible to represent the area. The nine-member board is moving forward with plans to replace Wilson, who was on the commission for more than two years. Interested parties must submit an application to …

Results of a needs-assessment questionnaire, distributed jointly by Sturgis Hospital and Three Rivers Health, have been released. The fourth of five fields focuses on healthy behaviors. According to the St. Joseph County 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment, 786 St. Joseph County residents under the age of 75 years suffered a premature death between 2008 and 2010. St. Joseph County ranked …

The city of Sturgis will move its municipal elections to even-numbered years, following a unanimous vote taken this week by community leaders. Starting Jan.1, the city will implement the even-year vote, as 2015 will not be an election year. Instead, the next vote to select city commissioners will be decided in 2016. Consequently, current commissioners whose terms would have expired …

Here’s a reminder that the Three Rivers Lions Club is selling tickets to the banquet honoring its citizen of the year. The newly-named “Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year” award will go to longtime Three Rivers resident and community activist Jerry Wright. The banquet is at 6:30 p.m. April 22 at Belle Époque. Tickets are $20 a piece and …

Fishing equipment and a television were among the items taken from three residences in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Sunday to the 67000 block of Stubey Road in response to breaking-and-entering incident. It was eventually discovered that three residences in all were broken into. The incidents occurred between March 1 and Sunday. Items taken include …

Four college students were charged with drug-related offenses following a traffic stop Monday night in Constantine Township. According to Michigan State Police, the vehicle was stopped around 9:30 p.m. on U.S. 131 near North River Road for speeding. Its driver, a 19-year-old from Wolcottville, told officers they were returning from Kalamazoo after purchasing marijuana. The marijuana was located and the …

Culver’s won’t be the only new restaurant in Sturgis this year. Company officials from Wings Etc. announced they plan to open a location there by the end of 2014. According to a company press release, project planning has been in progress for many months. There has been no location decided yet for the grill and pub. Wings Etc. is a …

A Fabius Township homeowner scared off two potential suspects in an attempted breaking-and-entering incident Thursday afternoon. State police said the owner of a residence in the 59000 block of Ferguson Road heard someone trying to open the rear sliding door to her residence. Upon investigating the situation, the woman noticed two men attempting to enter the residence. She confronted the …