Health and Wellness

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the suspect in a hit-and-run incident that occurred around 8:30 p.m. Monday in Constantine Township. Department officials said Centreville resident Steven Bontrager, 41, was driving south on U.S. 131, when an eastbound pickup on Stears Road failed to stop at the intersection and struck the driver’s side door of Bontrager’s vehicle. …

The Michigan Department of Community Health has confirmed that the first human case of West Nile Virus for 2013 has been identified in St. Joseph County. According to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, the case involves an adult male, over the age of 50 years, from the southwest corner of St. Joseph County. The man was hospitalized with symptoms …

Mendon Community Schools has been named the recipient of a grant of almost $10,000, which will help the district purchase iPads for classroom use. The Monsanto Fund, which recently awarded Riverside Health Clinic with a $10,000 grant, will provide a ceremonial check in the amount of $9,975 to Mendon school officials today during a media event at Mendon Elementary School. …

Michigan health officials have identified the states first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus for 2013 in a man from St. Joseph County. Last year, the West Nile Virus was responsible for 202 illnesses and 17 fatalities reported in Michigan. Department of Community Health Chief Medical Executive Dr. Matthew Davis says there is clear evidence that West Nile Virus …

Smoke emitting from inside a garbage bag led to drug-related charges against a Colon Township man Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the day acted on a citizen’s tip regarding a suspicious bag of what appeared to be trash alongside Decker Road in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics squad was called to the scene …

The city of Sturgis has issued a reminder that its tobacco-use ordinance goes into effect Thursday. As a reminder, the use of tobacco products – including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chew – will be prohibited on city property and its recreational areas. An allowable use of tobacco products on city property, however, is inside a …

A 32-year-old White Pigeon man was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center Friday evening after he was involved in a motorcycle crash in Mottville Township. The incident occurred on U.S. 12 near Mann Road. The victim was identifed as Cheyenne King. He reportedly collided with the rear of a minivan which had stopped for construction.

A Sturgis man was airlifted to Borgess Hospital after the vehicle he was driving was struck by a utility trailer Tuesday in Fawn River Township. State police said James Ortmann was driving east on U.S. 12 when the trailer of a westbound vehicle driven by Sturgis resident Corey Roberts broke from the truck to which it was attached. The trailer …

Organizers behind the fourth annual 5K event and 1-mile fun run/walk to support the Jonathan Edds  Memorial Fund announced the deadline to register and receive a T-shirt has been extended to next week. The White Pigeon Parks and Recreation Department, which is sponsoring the event, will accept registration through Aug. 1. Participation in the Aug. 24 event will remain open …

A successful gospel-recording artist will perform this weekend as part of a benefit for a Marcellus woman. Kentucky’s David Pitt will be the featured artist during a performance 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Riviera Theatre. Also taking part in the event will be The Heralders, a Southern-Gospel quartet from Hudsonville. All proceeds from the event will benefit the …