Health and Wellness

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has given the green light to the use of a trained dog for therapeutic and calming purposes. Commissioners on Tuesday OK’d an agreement with Linda Baker, victims’ rights coordinator who works for the county prosecutor’s office. Baker said three other counties in the state have dogs used for victims or witnesses who need a …

A 19-year-old Constantine man was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Health following a one-car accident over the weekend in Mendon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Curtis Roberts was southbound on Nottawa Road when he lost control of his vehicle at Prairie Corners Road. The vehicle struck a power pole. Investigators said it appears speed and alcohol …

A residence in Colon Township was raided by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit Friday morning, resulting in the arrests of five people. Sheriff’s department officials said the 7:30 a.m. raid at the Driftwood Drive residence was the second in nine months at that location. Two females and three males, ranging in age from 30 to 76, were taken …

Sturgis residents in a neighborhood in the city’s northeast quadrant are being advised to follow a boil-water advisory, following a water-main break last week. The broken pipe was at the intersection of North Lakeview Avenue and Wilshire Drive. More than a dozen basements were flooded as a result of the water-main break, which took place in the pre-dawn hours Friday, …

A South Bend man, who is suspected of passing out while driving, is hospitalized following a one-car incident around 1 a.m. Saturday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Francisco Perez, 24, was driving south on Constantine Road when he passed out behind the wheel and his vehicle collided with a tree near the intersection of Roys …

Two promotions and a new full-time employee have been announced by the Sturgis Fire Department. Deputy Chief Andy Strudwick said Cody Cripe and Andy Kiss were promoted to the rank of captain. Meanwhile, Joel Hohn was brought on board as a full-time employee after serving in a part-time capacity since 2007. Cripe joined the department in 2003, while Kiss has …

Eight jobs are being cut at Three Rivers Health as the result of restructuring, according to hospital CEO William Russell. With the current economic environment in the health-care industry, Russell noted the management reduction is necessary to ensure a sustainable path for the future of Three Rivers Health. Russell expressed his gratitude to all management leaders for their service. He …

The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a White Pigeon woman this week at her residence. SCAN officials said the 38-year-old woman, whose identity was not released pending arraignment, was taken into custody Monday after officers executed a search warrant at her residence, 201 N. St. Joseph St. Police discovered methamphetamine and evidence of meth having been manufactured on …

An Indiana man who was airlifted from the scene of a fatal car accident Wednesday morning is in fair condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Menno Schwartz, 23, of Geneva, Ind., was injured following the 6:40 a.m. accident Wednesday on Fawn River Road in White Pigeon Township. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed by hospital officials or in a …

Wet roads that froze late Tuesday and early Wednesday resulted in a pair of rollover accidents in St. Joseph County Wednesday. Sheriff’s department officials said the first incident took place at 7:10 a.m. in Park Township, where a van driven by 35-year-old Three Rivers resident Sherry Lynn Johnson ran off the road, into a ditch and rolled over. The accident …