News

Four people were injured after the vehicle they were in left the roadway and rolled over last week in an area west of Dowagiac in Cass County. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Rhonda Owens, 31, was driving north on M-51 around 6 a.m. Friday, when a deer ran in front of her vehicle. Owens told investigators she swerved …

National Day of Prayer is next month and St. Joseph County organizers have shared details about a local observance. The local National Day of Prayer, spearheaded by Barb Kwiatkowski, will be observed noon to 1 p.m. May 4 at the St. Joseph County Courthouse gazebo, at the northeast quadrant of the courthouse property.

Organizers of the twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and recycling of electronics are reminding the public that the spring 2023 event is coming up in less than a month. Pat Kulikoswki, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said this year’s spring collection will take place on a weekday – Wednesday, May 3. It will occur 3 …

A drunken-driving charge, as well as another offense, have been filed against St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite. The charges come from Kalamazoo County, where Lillywhite was arrested in late February after allegedly causing a two-vehicle crash. Charges of operating while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence of alcohol were made official Wednesday. Both charges are …

Two people were injured following a two-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before midnight Friday to the intersection of Marcellus Highway and Decatur Road. Investigators said 28-year-old Marcellus resident Jared Steiner was driving east on Marcellus Highway. Meanwhile, a car driven by 73-year-old Allie Williams, of Dowagiac, was heading …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency nominated a Hillsdale man who will receive a state award this week. Jeremiah Hodshire, president and chief executive officer of Hillsdale Hospital, will be recognized Tuesday for his work supporting the health of the community. A ceremony during which the Hometown Health Hero award will be bestowed, will occur at the new Heritage Hall …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is announcing an impending closure to its lobby. Due to construction at the Centreville-based agency, the entrance to the lobby will be closed Monday through Friday next week. With the closure, the jail will be unable to allow visitors, take fingerprints or conduct the purchase of permits. Anyone in need with assistance regarding court-ordered …

St. Joseph County Road Commission recently received a statewide award from a state agency. The IMPRESS award was bestowed at the 2023 County Road Commission Highway Conference last month. IMPRESS awards acknowledge county road agencies that demonstrate innovation on notable projects in the categories of communications, operations and collaboration. The award recognized the agency for its Shimmel Road project centering …

St. Joseph County Conservation District announced its “Conservationist of the Year” during its annual meeting last week. Agency director Carolyn Grace said Don Preston was the recipient of the conservation district’s highest honor. Preston, who works for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, learned to identify the various invasive species of plants invading the road commission’s right of way. Preston’s …

The deadline for orders for the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s annual tree sale is approaching. The 2023 sale features about two dozen varieties of trees and bushes. The inventory includes pagoda dogwood, red oak, sugar maple, white pine, black walnut and common lilac. Prices and varieties are available on the agency’s website. Pickup date is May 5 and 6 …