Health and Wellness

Staff and administrators at the St. Joseph County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will take 23 collective furlough days to help improve the agency’s financial standing. During Tuesday’s monthly CMHSAS Board meeting, executive director Liz O’Dell said management will be taking seven unpaid days off, while staff members will take a total of six. O’Dell will take 10 …

Representatives from the Three Rivers Food Pantry are issuing a public appeal for monetary donations now through the end of April. While there is always a need for help, the pantry is promoting an opportunity through which it will receive 10 percent credit in its account for all monetary donations made through April 30. The offer is available from the …

A 23-year-old Elkhart man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo after he was injured in a one-vehicle crash Sunday in Constantine Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Bradley Owen was driving on North River Road when he drove off the roadway near Maple Road and his truck ran into a tree. Owen had to …

A 90-year-old White Pigeon man was issued a citation last week after he drove into a moving, horse-drawn buggy in White Pigeon Township. State police investigators said the man was driving east on Fawn River Road when he ran into the back of the buggy near the intersection of Aldrich Lake Road at 9:45 a.m. Friday. The 35-year-old driver of …

Only minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident last week in Sturgis Township. A media release from the Michigan State Police stated 27-year-old Amanda Horning, of Sturgis, turned left in front of a westbound car on U.S. 12. The incident, which took place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, occurred in front of the Hillcrest Lounge. The 43-year-old driver of the …

A meeting to discuss a “rail-to-trail” proposal between St. Joseph and Branch counties drew more than 100 people to Sturgis Tuesday. The majority of the crowd opposed the plan, which calls for utilizing a rail bed between Sturgis and Coldwater to promote walking, jogging and bicycling. Though a cost to develop the trail has not been set, its creation would …

A 16-year-old girl from Constantine was treated for minor injuries after she was involved in a one-vehicle crash in Constantine Township earlier this week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the girl drove off the roadway in the area of North River and Winding River roads after she swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the road. The SUV …

A number of people were appointed or reappointed to various county boards Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to reappoint Dennis Bradley to the county’s Jury Board for a six-year term. Action by commissioners also will see the St. Joseph County Transportation Board served for two more years by Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Joseph Haas, Aaron Cullifer, …

Steve Chadwick, a biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will be the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Conservation District annual meeting. Chadwick will focus on the disease EHD and its impact on the whitetail deer population. Tickets for the event, which includes dinner, are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. The dinner and program …

The Tamarack Rail Trail is the name given to a proposed trail to connect Sturgis and Coldwater. The moniker was chosen during a meeting last week in Bronson, where nearly two dozen people pondered names and came to a consensus in recognition of the numerous tamarack trees planted along the route when it served as a railroad line between the …