Government

A long-time fixture with a local agency has announced he will be retiring. After 40 years with Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, including the past nine as health officer, Steve Todd said he will retire in January. The agency recently announced it received its sixth letter of accreditation, the only local health department to earn that number. The past two …

The case of a former Centreville High School teacher charged with criminal sexual conduct has been bound over to circuit court for trial. St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton last week took the action after hearing testimony from two former students of Terry Miller. Prosecutor John McDonough is charging Miller with 107 counts of misconduct for allegedly touching …

A major north-south route in St. Joseph County closed since July for bridge construction reopened this week. Crews from Hudsonville-based Grand River Construction on Thursday lifted the Silver Street detour in Mendon Township after completing construction of a new bridge at the Portage River. The job was a full rebuild to replace a bridge that crew foreman Dean Stewart said …

Two members of the White Pigeon High School girls’ cross country team were injured Monday when they were struck by a vehicle near Bonneyville Mill Park in Elkhart County, Ind. Sheriff’s deputies said Audrey Baker, 16, and Kaitlyn Caraway, 15, were running on the team’s course around 4 p.m. and were struck by an SUV as they tried to cross …

The village of Mendon took a significant step this week to better showcase its picturesque location along the St. Joseph River. The Mendon Downtown Development Authority voted Monday to support plans for development of an overlook deck. The elevated platform will feature a 32-by-48-foot deck to offer a panoramic view of the river. Village manager John Hyden said the development …

A 48-year-old woman was charged with drug-related offenses following her arrest Sept. 18 in Cass County. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team went to the 20000 block of Bulhand Road in Calvin Township after receiving a number of tips regarding the suspected manufacturing and use of methamphetamine at the residence. Following a search of the home, several items …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the larceny of a Polaris Ranger from a home in the 23000 block of Butler Road in Mendon Township. The vehicle was stolen during the evening Sept. 24. Authorities said the owner heard the vehicle start, but thought it was a family member taking it to complete farm chores.

Traffic flow is back to normal after the final stage of a major road project in a St. Joseph County community began last week. Main Street in Mendon opened to two-way traffic last Thursday after the westbound lane was closed when the $4.1 million infrastructure project started in late March. Village manager John Hyden said the balance of the project …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said the ninth annual National Drug Take Back event Saturday resulted in the collection of about 94 pounds of old and expired prescription medication. Collection sites were set up in Silver Creek, Howard, Edwardsburg and Marcellus townships, as well as the city of Dowagiac. Locally, more than six pounds were collected in Marcellus Township. The …

A 26-year-old Constantine woman was cited for disobeying a stop sign and no proof of insurance after causing a two-vehicle collision last week in Florence Township. Sheriff’s officials said Marranda Rohm was driving south on Fairchild Road at 6:18 p.m. Sept. 23 when she disregarded the stop sign at Centreville-Constantine Road. Her vehicle was struck by a pickup driven by …