News

A committee of Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency members discussed adding Juneteenth to its official holiday calendar, along with Veterans Day. The agency’s board policy committee discussed the matter last week. Agency officials said municipal governments worked Monday last week and almost all private businesses did, too. Some county offices were open and since Juneteenth was not on the calendar for …

May’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by seven-tenths of a percent from April. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week and it showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate climbed from 3.4 percent in April to 4.1 percent in May. The rate was 6 percent 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, …

A Three Rivers man was killed in a traffic accident Friday morning, just prior to 7:00, in Kalamazoo. The victim was identified as 46-year-old Jerry Wahmhoff. He was reportedly traveling southbound on Sprinkle Road, riding his motorcycle, when he collided with a westbound semi-rig on the I-94 Business Loop. Wahmhoff, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the …

A longtime business in Constantine Township was destroyed by fire last week. Graber Industries, an RV supply retailer in the 19000 block of Fairchild Road, caught fire around 10 a.m. Friday morning. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far away as Colon, Bronson and Middlebury. Multiple buildings were destroyed, though fire departments kept the blaze secured as much …

Sturgis Hospital is facing mounting financial deficits, and officials from the medical facility have turned to the city for help. Hospital officials approached Sturgis City Commission last week to ask for a $645,000 loan to keep the facility open until a decision is made for $15 million in emergency funding. If approved by the state, that $15 million to fund …

A Sturgis man was found guilty by jury this week on charges related to child pornography. A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest and eventual conviction of 24-year-old Adalberto “Jacob” Garcia. Garcia was found guilty after a two-day trial overseen this week by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. The case centered on …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a larceny of multiple firearms from a location in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. According to a department media release, troopers were called to the 100 block of North Behnke Road to investigate the situation. Authorities were told the incident occurred June 7. Troopers said they have reason to believe the firearms are now in …

The Constantine Village Council this week reviewed a St. Joseph Ambulance Consortium agreement involving 18 local municipalities. The agreement is for Burr Oak, Colon, Constantine, Fawn River, Florence, Leonidas, Mottville, Nottawa, Mendon, Sherman, Sturgis and White Pigeon townships, and the villages of Burr Oak, Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon and White Pigeon. It states the SJAC board will consist of one …

White Pigeon Community Schools is set to hire one of its own to lead the 730-student district. Pending the formality of board approval next week, Shelly McBride will become the district’s superintendent July 1. She replaces the two-person administrative team of Jon Keyer and Carrie Erlandson, who both retired at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. McBride, a 1997 …

A Bronson man and three others died in a two-vehicle crash last week north of Coldwater. State police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3 p.m. Saturday on Marshall Road in Branch County’s Girard Township. The incident occurred north of Bidwell Road. Investigators said Christopher Raymond, 45, was driving south on Marshall Road in a small SUV. It appears he …