Health and Wellness

A grass fire Sunday afternoon was the seventh within a week in the county. Crews from the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department were quickly able to extinguish the weekend blaze, which covered a small area near North Fisher Lake Road. During the Fourth of July period last week, grass fires were extinguished by the department. Agency officials said fireworks were responsible …

Three Jones residents were arrested on drug-related offenses and a child placed into protective custody following an incident Tuesday afternoon. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 61000 block of High Street. Upon entry into the residence, investigators found used meth labs and components to manufacture methamphetamine. A handgun, methamphetamine and marijuana …

One person was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center after a crash around 7 p.m. last Wednesday in Nottawa Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies said Centreville resident Carol Ann Walls was driving north on Nottawa Road when she failed to stop at the intersection of M-86. Walls’ vehicle struck a car headed east on M-86. Occupants of the second vehicle, Brian …

Investigators are still looking into the cause of a house fire reported around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Sherman Township. The blaze heavily damaged the residence, in the 64000 block of Shimmel Road. There were no injuries reported, though personnel from the Tri-Township Fire Department sought frequent rehabilitation from heat near 100 degrees by utilizing an emergency-response trailer brought to the …

The Sturgis Police Department is reminding city residents that the municipality’s general noise ordinance will be enforced for fireworks-related complaints received Tuesday through Thursday. Deputy Chief David Ives said jurisdictions with a noise ordinance in place before the state’s approval of commercial-grade fireworks for the general public can be enforced. Meanwhile, the Sturgis Fire Department reminds residents that extreme caution …

White Pigeon Township is joining a number of other St. Joseph County entities by putting into place a ban on burning. Fire Chief Troy Andrews said White Pigeon Township will not be issuing burn permits until measurable rainfall is recorded. Fire officials in Three Rivers this week have declared an outdoor burning ban, including but not limited to campfires, bonfires …

An Indiana man suffered minor injuries Wednesday after wiping out on his motorcycle to avoid hitting a deer in the roadway. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said 24-year-old Shane Richardson was slightly hurt as a result of the 11:45 a.m. incident in Florence Township. Deputies said Richardson was driving west on Featherstone Road when he managed to keep from …

Constantine Fire Chief Mike Hayden has issued a media release centering on burn permits and the dry conditions. He said the department has temporarily suspended issuing burn permits to residents in Constantine and Florence townships until an adequate amount of rainfall is recorded. Hayden suggested residents in other townships check with their fire officials to verify whether they, too, have …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough has leveled a charge of assault with intent to murder against a 53-year-old Florence Township man. McDonough on Tuesday said the charge against Bruce Tullos was warranted considering the extent and severity of injuries he inflicted upon the female victim. No weapon was used in the attack, investigators concluded. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s …

Three Rivers city officials said they expect Scidmore Park playground to reopen this weekend after a five-day undertaking to improve the playground surface. Assistant Engineer Merritt Brown said the task involved removing the entire covering of wood chips and replacing the surface area with crumb rubber. Work started Monday and has involved a number of volunteers. Brown said Jamie Clark, …