St Joseph County

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting a significant uptick in reports of flu-like illnesses over those reported in November. Steve Todd, health officer for the tri-county health department, said while the actual number of reported flu cases since the end of November has only grown from zero to 13 cases, the number of flu-like illnesses has more than …

Five unlocked vehicles were ransacked and had items stolen from them during incidents that occurred last week in Leonidas and Colon Townships. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incidents occurred between late Thursday night and in the early morning hours Friday on Blossom Road. The first incident took place outside a residence in the 54000 block of Blossom …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has announced it is accepting nominations for the “Three Rivers Lions Club Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year” award. Presented since 1965, the Three Rivers Lions Club’s Citizen of the Year award was renamed in 2014 to honor Snook, a community activist and longtime Lion who passed away in 2013. The award recognizes people …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, through its program called “Ins and Outs,” is scheduling appointments to assist area residents with signing up through the Healthcare Marketplace or for Medicaid. Open enrollment for the Healthcare Marketplace will end Feb. 15. According to Steve Todd, health officer for the tri-county health department, the agency has available eight certified, in-person assisters who …

Camp Fort Hill has announced details regarding its second annual Winter Adventure event. From 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 24, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to snow shoe or cross-country ski. The free event will also feature soup, sandwiches and s’mores. Also, drawings for gift cards to Lee’s Sports will take place throughout the afternoon Jan. 24. …

St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman last week granted another adjournment in the criminal sexual conduct case against David Wing, a former St. Joseph County public school teacher and administrator. Defense attorney Ronald Grubbs requested that a pretrial status conference be delayed another 30 days, citing technical problems with accessing some of the prosecution’s evidence against Wing, 59, of …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made its annual appropriation to the county’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Commissioners budgeted more than $257,000 to the Centreville-based agency. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agency this year will be allocated an additional $90,000 to rectify a previous accounting error. As a result, $86, 817 will be transferred …

Members of St. Joseph County’s AFSCME general unit will continue to have the option to work four, 10-hour days. County commissioners last week approved the concept after it was offered for the balance of the year in 2014 starting in May. County administrator Pat Yoder said based on his observations and feedback, the opportunity worked well. The option is available …

Members of St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners have agreed to keep their twice-a-month meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meanwhile, the five-member commission also decided this week to continue staging its executive committee meetings at 8 a.m. the Wednesday before a commission meeting. Matters discussed during the executive committee sessions are typically in-depth …

A number of employment agreements were approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Cathleen Carpenter, Dawn Gest, Alex Milliman, Heather Teadt and Nancy Gamble will serve as Juvenile Day Treatment monitors for $14 an hour through May 30. In a separate personnel matter, Kimberly Jent was hired as COA home-care aide at a rate of $10.70 …