Health and Wellness

Immunizations are expected to be administered today to as many as 90 students at Eastwood Elementary School following a confirmed case of whopping cough at the Sturgis Public Schools building. The fifth-grade student was diagnosed with whooping cough last week, prompting county health officials to review health records of students at the school. About 90 were found to be in …

The names of four Sturgis residents arrested on drug-related charges have been released, as the suspects were arraigned in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Sturgis Police said they executed a search warrant around 4 p.m. Feb. 1 at a residence in the 400 block of Walker Street. Arrested were Douglas Keefer, 58, charged with maintaining a drug house; Jared Payton, …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded Monday morning to a methamphetamine dump site by Big Swan Creek in the 62500 block of Needham Road, in Burr Oak Township. A backpack containing meth waste and a burn site that resembled remains of a campfire were discovered at the site. Officials concluded three one-pot meth labs was produced at the location. …

Steve Todd, health officer for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, said Tuesday that a supply of free flu shots remains available at St. Joseph County’s Three Rivers-based site. Todd told members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners that the three-county agency received about 400 doses of flu vaccine. The supply it has on hand in Three Rivers remains …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety took four Sturgis residents into custody after raiding a house where production of methamphetamine was allegedly taking place. The four people arrested range in age from 18 to 57. Police said they executed a search warrant around 4 p.m. Wednesday at a residence in the 400 block of Walker Street. Arrested were: a 57-year-old …

A press conference has been scheduled for 10 o’clock Monday morning by St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge Tom Shumaker regarding a new, proactive drug prevention and educational program centering on St. Joseph County’s teen population. The program is a collaboration between St. Joseph County police agencies, in partnership with the Prosecutor’s Office, Juvenile Court, Community Mental Health Substance Abuse …

Officials from Three Rivers Health reported last week that the hospital realized more than $500,000 in net income in 2011. The matter was brought up during the Three Rivers Health Board of Directors meeting last Thursday. Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell said the figure represents an increase from $172,000 a year ago. Hospital officials said a key factor in …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is starting a new, weekly route with service to and from the Battle Creek VA Medical Center at Fort Custer. CTA executive director Steve Yorks said the inaugural trip takes place today and will continue every Wednesday. The round-trip cost is $20 and the Three Rivers-based agency needs 48 hours advance notice to coordinate …

A LaGrange County woman was treated for injuries sustained after she used gasoline to relight a coal stove in her basement. The woman, whose name and age were not released by the Shipshewana Fire Department, was burned after the coal stove burst into flames with the application of gasoline. The blaze caught the basement on fire, causing significant fire, smoke …

An Elkhart, Ind., man was arraigned Monday in Cass County Fourth District Court after he was charged in connection with shooting a 44-year-old Edwardsburg man over the weekend. Kevin Vint, 40, allegedly shot Trevor Claire in a garage at a residence near Edwardsburg midday Sunday. Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department arrested Vint at the scene after witnesses identified …