St Joseph County

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is offering assistance with learning more about the facts related to arsenic and a home-water test. Arsenic is a natural-occurring element found in rocks and soil, and is used for a variety of purposes within industry and agriculture. It has no smell or taste in drinking water. According to Rebecca Burns, environmental health director …

A 68-year-old Coldwater man was hospitalized after the fishing boat he was in struck a pontoon boat last weekend in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Larry Prince was operating a bass boat around 7:45 p.m. Saturday on Lake Templene. Prince was making a left turn and his watercraft struck a 24-foot pontoon boat that was turning …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation has announced its recipients of scholarships issued to members of the 2015 Three Rivers High School graduating class. The scholarships were established to reward students continuing their education for academic achievements, community involvement, and/or athletic excellence. Payton Krause was awarded three scholarships totaling $5,500; Austin Witters received three scholarships totaling $1,500; Ashley Smith was …

The first child for State Rep. Aaron Miller and his wife, Alex, was born at 1:02 a.m. Friday at Sturgis Hospital. Jael Tonya weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces, and measured 19 3/4 inches. She is the first grandchild on both sides of the family Miller, who turns 28 next month, said he was in session Wednesday. With his cell …

Members of Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have agreed to support a seminar class at the high school, effective in the 2015-16 school year. Seminar replaces computer-related technology and freshman focus as requirements for graduation; both will continue to be provided within the seminar. Seminar is a grade-level class designed to give students the opportunity to improve grades, work …

A former Three Rivers High School teacher who has pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement, has repaid $17,000 in restitution, according to St. Joseph County court officials. Thirty-three-year-old Sara Freeman, a Burr Oak resident, made the restitution payment before a Friday deadline last week. County Prosecutor John McDonough had set the restitution amount and May 22 deadline …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced it will begin roadwork of a main route between Three Rivers and Centreville starting this morning. A 4 1/2-mile stretch of M-86 will be under construction for about a month from the Grand Elk Railroad crossing to the Centreville village limits. MDOT officials said the project includes repaving, pavement markings, shoulder work and …

Morgan Olson LLC of Sturgis is being considered for a major contract with the U.S. Postal Service. The agency is planning a mail truck upgrade, calling it the “Next Generation Delivery Vehicle.” Recently, Morgan Olson submitted a proposal for the government contract and is now among 15 suppliers being considered for manufacturing the new mail vehicles. In 2017, the postal …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved the sale of three tax-foreclosed residential properties to Sturgis Neighborhood Program. SNP will rehabilitate and resell the properties, returning them to the tax roll. The city agreed to accept $48,000 from SNP for property at 330 W. Jerolene St.; 602 S. Clay St.; and 1002 Greenlawn. The figure is $11,600 below the …

Two support-staff members were the first victims of Colon Community Schools’ employee-reduction plan. The next wave, which could include as many as five teachers, is expected to hit when the board conducts a special meeting in early June. During Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, district officials agreed to layoff high school secretary Marianne Verner and elementary teacher assistant Stacy Sult. …