Health and Wellness

The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging is unveiling its once-every-three-years survey seeking input from residents in Branch and St. Joseph counties, and local service providers and key leaders. Laura Sutter, agency coordinator, said the agency prepares a multi-year area plan, and input received from the survey helps spell out the needs and priorities of older adults, and targets funding …

More than a dozen people showed up Saturday at the inaugural foster care and adoption open house in Three Rivers. Spearheaded by the St. Joseph County Department of Human Services, the three-hour, drop-in event provided information about licensing requirements to become involved in foster care. Karie Saylor, representing the Centreville-based DHS of St. Joseph County, said she was pleased to …

Sturgis-based Michigan Agency with Choice has terminated its contract with Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The decision was made based primarily on the agency’s refusal to reinstate services for people with disabilities, according to John Carmichael, director of business development of GT Independence, the parent company of MAWC. Liz O’Dell, Community Mental Health executive …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is warning local food establishments about a scam involving fake food inspectors making the rounds in the area. The tri-county health department has received reports from local restaurant owners that individuals claiming to be from a health department have contacted them and requested to schedule an inspection at the establishment. State and local food …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit on Tuesday executed a search warrant on a suspected methamphetamine production lab in the 100 block of East Chicago Road in White Pigeon. The warrant was the culmination of an ongoing investigation that began with an arrest for methamphetamine precursors earlier in the week, according to the sheriff’s department. On scene, …

Two units in an eight-unit Constantine apartment building were damaged by a fire earlier this week. Constantine firefighters were called around 5 p.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Peachtree Street, where the Custer Apartments were ablaze. Investigators said it appears the fire started in a lower unit and spread up and out from its origin. Though a half dozen …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services received a report of sewage overflowing from a manhole near the intersection of 5th Avenue and Water Street Monday night. DPS crews responded immediately and had the sewer line flowing normally by 10:15 p.m., about 25 minutes after being notified of the incident. It was estimated 200 gallons of sanitary sewage overflowed from …

An item used in the process of producing methamphetamine was discovered last week on a Burr Oak Township roadway. Michigan State Police said a call was received around 8 p.m. Friday regarding a so-called gas generator on Big Hill Road at Witt Lake Road. The device is described as a 1.5-liter plastic Pepsi bottle with a rubber hose attached to …

The first session of the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of 2013 begins Saturday. Overseen by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Adopt-A-Highway involves volunteers picking up litter along state highways from April 13 to 21, the first of three scheduled pickups this year. In 2012, Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups collected about 65,000 bags of trash, a cost benefit to the state of $5.6 million. …

Electronics and jewelry were among items taken during a daytime break-in at a residence in Park Township. State Police personnel are investigating the Tuesday incident, which occurred between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at a residence in the 55000 block of Wilbur Road. Access was gained to the residence by forced entry. MSP officials suggest checking to see doors and …