News

A significant renovation project to benefit the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is less than a month from completion. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said renovation of the south half of a building previously occupied by the county’s parks and recreation department should be done before the end of July. The open-floor area has been converted, and consists of two smaller rooms …

An overhaul project is being planned for the Sturgis hydroelectric plant near Centreville. Sturgis City Commission members earlier this month approved a bid from Thompson/Hydro Consulting and Maintenance Services for overhauling hydro-generating units 3 and 4 at the plant. The bid was for nearly $980,000. Commissioners also approved a bid waiver for and the proposal of Hydro Partners for project …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred within the past week in Sherman Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies responded to a residence in the 24000 block of Mintdale Road in response to the crime. Entry was forced and a variety of items, including power tools and hand tools, and a guitar, were reported stolen. Investigators said the …

As part of an initiative to help meet the need for allied-health professionals in the community, Glen Oaks Community College has revamped several allied-health certificate programs so students are able to complete them in less than one year. The need is high, said Christina Steele, director of allied health. She said employers are hiring students right out of their practicum …

Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Three Rivers and its booster parent group recently presented Carnegie Center of the Arts with a donation of $950. The school requested the funds be used for summer art classes, the fourth-grade art program or the Three Rivers schoolwide art show. Carnegie was chosen in 2022 because of the opportunities the organization provides for youth …

Michigan reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending June 26, adding about 10,700 new cases. That’s down 31.4 percent from the previous week’s tally of just over 15,500 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 37 cases. A week earlier, it had reported 60 cases. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 14,092 cases …

Deputies responded earlier this week to a single-vehicle crash in Colon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday to the area of Burr Oak Road and West Palmer Lake Road, where the victim was trapped inside the vehicle. Upon arrival, Deputies located a single-family home fully engulfed in flames. Deputies noted that the driver’s …

Sturgis officials have issued a reminder that fireworks within the city limits are allowed during specified times and dates. According to a city-issued media release, reasonable levels of noise associated with fireworks will be allowed until 11:45 p.m. today through Monday. The city’s noise ordinance will be in enforced for all complaints related to fireworks outside those days and after …

Registered nurses at Three Rivers Health-Beacon Health System have ratified a new contract that will help recruit and retain nurses and enable them to provide safe, quality care. According to a media release from Michigan Nurses Association, nurses had been working under a contract that expired March 31 and voted Friday to approve the tentative agreement reached between them and …

Three Rivers Police said the agency has released the name of a St. Joseph River drowning victim. Det. Sam Smallcombe said the body of Donovan Forsythe, 26, of Princeton, N.C., was pulled Saturday evening from the river after the kayak he was operating capsized shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday on the St. Joseph River in the area of River Drive …