Health and Wellness

Four college students were charged with drug-related offenses following a traffic stop Monday night in Constantine Township. According to Michigan State Police, the vehicle was stopped around 9:30 p.m. on U.S. 131 near North River Road for speeding. Its driver, a 19-year-old from Wolcottville, told officers they were returning from Kalamazoo after purchasing marijuana. The marijuana was located and the …

Results of a needs-assessment questionnaire, distributed jointly by Sturgis Hospital and Three Rivers Health, have been released. The third of five fields focuses on chronic diseases. According to the St. Joseph County 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment, 29 percent of the population surveyed suffers from chronic lower back pain and 28 percent reported having high blood pressure. In addition, as …

Methamphetamine-related charges were filed against a Constantine Township man Thursday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the arrest was the culmination of an investigation that took place over the course of several weeks. The suspect was arrested after a search warrant was executed by narcotics investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. The arrest took place at …

A 20-year-old Fabius Township woman was issued a citation after the vehicle she was driving rear-ended another car in Lockport Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Jessie Hanstine was driving east on M-60 when she failed to stop for a car turning left off M-60 into a residential driveway near Haines Road. The turning car was driven by …

A child-safety-seat check is being offered later this month in Three Rivers. The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 29 at the Fabius-Park Fire and Rescue station on Broadway Road, west of U.S. 131. Organizers of the event said the children who use the seat must be present during the free inspection.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Board of Health has released its “Certificates of Excellence” in food service for the year 2013. The 97 recipients in the three-county region represent food establishments that were able to meet stringent criteria during the year. The 32 St. Joseph County locations that received Certificates of Excellence included schools in Burr Oak, Centreville, Colon, …

A 20-year-old Centreville resident was cited for careless driving after his car struck a parked vehicle Thursday morning in downtown Centreville. Charles Parker was cited after he failed to clear ice from his vehicle’s windshield, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The distraction was a factor in a collision with a parked vehicle in which 74-year-old Roy Buel …

A 15-year-old Leonidas teen is spearheading a fundraiser this weekend to support the Great Lakes Burn Camp. Shyannah Stevens, with some help from members of the Leonidas Fire Department, is overseeing a pancake breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Leonidas Grange Hall. All donations will go toward the camp that hosts teenagers who are burn victims. The one-week …

Results of a needs-assessment questionnaire, distributed jointly by Sturgis Hospital and Three Rivers Health, have been released. The second of five fields focuses on Access to Health Care. The results show leading issues among 620 respondents relate to a lack of affordable health insurance coverage, the cost of medical care and the lack of access to services. Other data from …

Sturgis Hospital has announced a temporary, 5-percent salary reduction that took effect at the start of this week. Union representatives agreed to the action last Wednesday, according to hospital officials. It is effective for the next eight biweekly pay periods. The reduction applies to all 350 employees, including management. Hospital officials said a decline in patient volume beginning last fall …