County Information

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County ended a two-month trend and decreased compared to the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.8 percent February unemployment rate was half a percent less than January’s figure. Furthermore, the February unemployment rate was 1.7 percent less than the same …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a breaking-and-entering incident of a barn in Sherman Township last week. Stolen was a pair of orange KTM motorcycles. They were stolen either April 3 or 4. A sheriff’s department media release did not indicate the manner in which access was gained into the barn.

A woman attempting to cash a fraudulent check in Three Rivers eluded police on two occasions and remains at large. Three Rivers Police officials said the woman attempted to cash the fake check late Thursday at a local bank. A teller recognized the check was not real and identification she presented was fraudulent, and attempted to stall the woman in …

A Park Township man said three rings he ordered through the mail were stolen from his mailbox last month. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, the man said mail was delivered to his Wilbur Road residence around 1 p.m. March 22, but packages in which the rings were sent were gone when he went to retrieve his mail …

A former Vicksburg resident was recently convicted of taking deer and wild turkeys out of season. A media release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources stated Justin Neel was charged with eight misdemeanor counts related to the illegal taking of two deer and two turkeys. During an investigation, DNR conservation officers found Neel had illegally killed a deer without …

Five people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges Wednesday following a raid of a Centreville apartment. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit followed up on a tip that meth was being produced in an apartment at 327 N. Dean St. A search warrant executed at 5:30 p.m. led officers to an active meth lab. Arrested were two men, ages 41 …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry said he was told by a retired city employee that someone outside a residence on 14th Street has been discharging a firearm. During Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Lowry said repeated incidents of the action should be investigated by police, as there is an ordinance against discharging a firearm within city limits. Lowry said from what …

Members of the St. Joseph County Literacy Council are hoping an appeal to the public will land a new batch of tutors needed in Sturgis. Rebecca Lilly, head of the Three Rivers-based council, said between 25 and 30 people are on a waiting list seeking tutoring services in Sturgis. Lilly said the list is comprised primarily of people who speak …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services announced it will be flushing hydrants starting April 15 and should continue through the end of the month. The flushing will take place weeknights over a six-hour period starting at 11 p.m. Department officials said some residences may notice rusty water during the flushing process.

Members of the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County are planning for the agency’s 11th annual dinner auction. ARF’s annual largest fundraiser takes place April 13 at Belle Époque in Three Rivers. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children, and are available at Beam …