News

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting the third death in the tri-county area this season due to complications from influenza. This is the second death of a St. Joseph County resident, though the death of the elderly man occurred in an out-of-county facility. In each of the three cases, there were underlying conditions that may have been the …

A county parks system featuring larger parcels with greater, natural-resource-based recreational opportunities was identified as a major component of the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department newly developed master plan. John Pence, director of the agency, presented a summary of the five-year plan to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. He said instead of operating …

A Constantine woman was treated for injuries she received Monday following a two-vehicle accident in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said 33-year-old Maylynn Kitchen of Constantine was driving south on U.S. 131 when her vehicle was struck by a car eastbound on M-60. Investigators said Megan Belew, a 33-year-old Delton resident, failed to yield the right of …

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County has announced the date of its annual Dinner Auction, the agency’s largest fundraiser of the year. The event will be March 22 at Belle Époque in downtown Three Rivers. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with a live auction starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Beam Sound and …

A Branch County man has been charged with felony animal abuse after sheriff’s deputies found a dead horse and nine others that were underfed on his farm in Ovid Township. The Branch County Sheriff’s Department said Geoffrey Eickmann, 33, was arrested Thursday after a warrant was issued. He remains at the county jail in Coldwater under a $25,000 bond after …

Michigan’s memorable winter is about to set another record. Currently, more than 90.5% of the Great Lakes are ice-covered. That’s the most ice cover in 34 years. In 1979, there was 94.7% ice cover, the largest ever recorded by scientists. Jia Wang, a research ice climatologist for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, told the Detroit Free …

Hunting and fishing licenses will cost you more this year in Michigan, as the Department of Natural Resources is raising those fees for the first time in 17 years. The prices of deer licenses are going up from 15 to 31-dollars, while fishing licenses now cost 26 bucks, up from 15. All fishing licenses will be good for all species. …

The village of Constantine was awarded a grant in excess of $240,000 Friday from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. During a ceremony at the village office, municipal leaders accepted the money awarded as part of a Downtown Infrastructure Grant. The $242,000 gift was contingent on an $80,000 match from the village. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the funds will help …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell announced he will not seek re-election later this year. The 64-year-old Caswell said his tenure will end Dec. 31. He took over the position from Cameron Brown starting in January 2011. Caswell, a retired superintendent of Pittsford Area Schools, had turned in his petition to run again. However, Caswell said he will withdraw his petition and …

Here’s a reminder that online voting for the People’s Choice continues through Wednesday for the upcoming Dancing With the St. Joseph County Stars event. Event organizer Linda Kline said an award will be presented after Friday’s production to the couple that receives the most online votes for People’s Choice. Voting for the award will continue the day of the event …