County Information

A South Bend man, who is suspected of passing out while driving, is hospitalized following a one-car incident around 1 a.m. Saturday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Francisco Perez, 24, was driving south on Constantine Road when he passed out behind the wheel and his vehicle collided with a tree near the intersection of Roys …

Two promotions and a new full-time employee have been announced by the Sturgis Fire Department. Deputy Chief Andy Strudwick said Cody Cripe and Andy Kiss were promoted to the rank of captain. Meanwhile, Joel Hohn was brought on board as a full-time employee after serving in a part-time capacity since 2007. Cripe joined the department in 2003, while Kiss has …

Eight jobs are being cut at Three Rivers Health as the result of restructuring, according to hospital CEO William Russell. With the current economic environment in the health-care industry, Russell noted the management reduction is necessary to ensure a sustainable path for the future of Three Rivers Health. Russell expressed his gratitude to all management leaders for their service. He …

The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a White Pigeon woman this week at her residence. SCAN officials said the 38-year-old woman, whose identity was not released pending arraignment, was taken into custody Monday after officers executed a search warrant at her residence, 201 N. St. Joseph St. Police discovered methamphetamine and evidence of meth having been manufactured on …

An Indiana man who was airlifted from the scene of a fatal car accident Wednesday morning is in fair condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Menno Schwartz, 23, of Geneva, Ind., was injured following the 6:40 a.m. accident Wednesday on Fawn River Road in White Pigeon Township. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed by hospital officials or in a …

Wet roads that froze late Tuesday and early Wednesday resulted in a pair of rollover accidents in St. Joseph County Wednesday. Sheriff’s department officials said the first incident took place at 7:10 a.m. in Park Township, where a van driven by 35-year-old Three Rivers resident Sherry Lynn Johnson ran off the road, into a ditch and rolled over. The accident …

Residents in St. Joseph and Branch counties are asked to check their mailboxes for a survey to be sent soon by the Prairie River Watershed Planning Project. Project director Rachel Smith said as part of the Prairie River Watershed Planning Project, replies from residents in the watershed area are critical, as they are considered the people who know the watershed …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Wednesday took the ceremonial oath of office as a state representative in the Michigan House. Lori’s third and final term, due to term limits, was made official with Lt. Gov. Brian Calley administering the ceremonial oath in the state Capitol in Lansing. Lori, whose term expires at the end of 2014, was joined during the …

The Centreville Downtown Development Authority recently completed a transaction that includes the purchase of the former Village Market. DDA officials announced details of the purchase Tuesday, saying the $75,000 deal includes the 20,600-square-foot grocery building and attached plaza that features four storefronts. DDA Chair Pattie Bender said the association’s interest in the property was – in part – because of …

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County remained less than 7 percent, as it dropped one-tenth of a percent compared to October. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget indicated seasonal retail hiring helped offset job losses in the construction and hospitality fields. St. Joseph County’s 6.7 percent November unemployment rate was not only …