County Information

Officials from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have notified Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency that a fawn in Hillsdale County tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis. It is the first deer in the state found with the virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Mammals, specifically horses, humans and deer, can become infected when bitten by a mosquito that …

Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor told county commissioners a state grant that would help pay for the reconstruction of a one-mile portion of Constantine Road may end up left on the table. He said road commission manager Chris Minger indicated the state is offering an 80-20 match, with the state willing to cover the larger percentage of the cost. Evilsizor …

A 47-year-old Kalamazoo woman was charged with driving under the influence of drugs following a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Three Rivers. State police said the suspect was heading south on U.S. 131 at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it ran into the back of a stopped vehicle waiting to turn left onto North Main Street. The vehicle that was …

Upcoming changes at Sturgis Hospital will affect the equivalent of almost 14 full-time positions. In addition, the Pain Management Center and the Wound Clinic are scheduled to close. The actions are the result of Sturgis Hospital experiencing deficits during fiscal year 2017, hospital spokeswoman Phyllis Youga said. Those deficits were a result of declines in inpatient and outpatient volume, a …

State police are investigating the theft of a log splitter from a location in Fabius Township. The Huskee brand splitter was taken between 10 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday from the 50000 block of Pulver Road. The log splitter is red in color and its trailer had a flat tire.

Three Lansing-area juveniles were arrested after they allegedly stole a semi truck. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called around 2:30 p.m. Sunday to the 10000 block of Floating Bridge Road in Flowerfield Township. The owner told authorities the truck has a GPS unit, which led deputies to the location. The owner said the truck was stolen …

Two handguns, a long gun and a collection of silver Canadian half dollars were stolen from a residence in Fawn River Township. Sheriff’s department officials said investigators were called Sunday to the 30000 block of U.S. 12, where the victim told authorities the incident occurred between 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. A department media release did not indicate …

The task of converting the former Three Rivers Inn from a hotel to senior housing and Commission On Aging headquarters is progressing well. Tim Stoll, COA director, addressed county commissioners Tuesday with an update on the plan. Stoll said assessments regarding the building and its potential re-design are ongoing. Stoll said the COA is working on a community-wide meeting for …

St. Joseph County voters will have the chance next year to decide the fate of a millage-increase request sought by E-911 Central Dispatch. Members of the county commission voted Tuesday to authorize the 0.25-mill increase request to appear on the May 2018 ballot. If approved, the agency would collect 1 mill annually over a seven-year period. It currently collects 0.75 …

High school students in school districts adjacent to Michigan’s state border are one step closer to more post-secondary and dual enrollment options after the House recently approved legislation proposed by state Rep. Aaron Miller. The legislation amends the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act with the specific stipulation that the out-of-state educational facility must be within 20 miles of the shared border …