News

The death of an elderly Sturgis woman is being investigated by crime scene officials from the Sturgis Police Department and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said police were summoned to assist emergency medical services personnel responding to a woman in cardiac arrest in the 700 block of Myrtle Street. The woman, whose name and age were not released …

Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell has unveiled a strategic plan for the hospital’s future. During the first of a series of town hall meetings, Russell last week said sustainability, quality, growth and people are critical areas on which the hospital will continue to focus. He elaborated on each area, backing up the merits of each. Russell, who also detailed …

A corrections officer from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was placed on administrative leave after he was arrested for allegedly stealing prescription drugs while on duty. A media release from the department said 12-year veteran Stephen Morris, 39, was charged with two counts of larceny following the alleged incident from the county jail Jan. 9. The case is being …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Committee is short three people and an appeal is being made to county residents to consider joining the panel. During commissioner comments at last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, Rick Shaffer said citizen interest forms can be found on the county’s website. The committee, which meets once a month, reviews …

Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation will host an open house next week regarding the U.S. 131 Constantine bypass project. Set to take place next Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Constantine High School, the open house will allow the public to see the latest designs and plans related to the project, which state officials say will begin …

The portable ice rink purchased by the city of Sturgis was not ready for use in time for Friday’s Winter Blues event, but municipal officials said freezing temperatures this week should help create an adequate layer of ice. Installed at the corner of North Monroe Street and East Chicago Road, the rink will be open noon to dusk Sundays through …

State Rep. Matt Lori issued a statement following Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address Wednesday. Lori, 56, said he looks forward to working with Snyder to continue economic momentum and fostering a healthy economy in which more jobs can be created. The Constantine-area resident, who is beginning his third, two-year term, said legislators have achieved much in putting …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to hire Lindsay Howes as the county’s grant writer. Howes, who has most recently served as Three Rivers city clerk since 2007, was approved to the position Tuesday by the five-member commission. A 32-year-old Three Rivers resident, Howes will be paid $50,000 a year, with $30,000 of the salary paid by the …

Organizers behind the White Pigeon snowman-making contest have revised the deadline for entries to late next month, as poor snow conditions continue to hex the event. Key organizer Shireen Cline said the competition was given a green light when a wet snow fell shortly after Christmas. In the days since, however, a mixture of rain followed by below-freezing temperatures have …

St. Joseph County Administrator Judy West-Wing was honored Tuesday by current and past members of the county’s Board of Commissioners. The session was West-Wing’s last, as she is retiring next week and ending a 30-year tenure as a St. Joseph County employee. Current commissioners were joined by former members Eric Shafer, John Bippus, Larry Walton and others as West-Wing was …