News

Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County recently announced Mendon Housing Initiative exceeded its $30,000 fundraising campaign goal. The success will support construction of the first Habitat for Humanity home in the Mendon community. In three months – one month ahead of schedule – Mendon Housing Initiative was able to raise more than $48,000. Funds donated from ‘Giving Tuesday’ through Dec. 18 …

Some of the lowest vaccination rates in Michigan are in several townships along the state’s border with Ohio and Indiana, according to a state-issued report. The report speculates residents were vaccinated out of state and did not report it in Michigan. Those townships include Burr Oak, Colon and Nottawa in St. Joseph County. All have large Amish communities. Kristina Dewey, health information …

Michigan has received an initial, small federal shipment of COVID-19 pills that can be taken at home, state health officials announced Friday. The arrival of the newly authorized oral medications comes as the state confronts record high coronavirus cases and near-peak hospitalizations amid a surge fueled by the omicron variant. The pills cleared federal approvals over two weeks ago and can only be …

State Rep. Steve Carra announced Thursday he voted in every House of Representatives floor vote in 2021. In the Legislature, Carra is the House majority vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a key panel tasked with reviewing administrative regulations. He also serves on the House committees on Agriculture, Financial Services and Transportation. Carra said he regularly met in …

Damian Barrera Carrillo was born at 7:58 a.m. Jan. 3, making him the first baby of the new year birthed at Three Rivers Health. Damian was born to Maria Carrillo Cruz and Oscar Barrera of Sturgis. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 19 and 1⁄4 inches. Damian was the sixth boy to be born to the couple. Siblings Jose Antonio, Gabino, Justin, …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education has started the process of a short-term solution to its impending superintendent’s vacancy. During a special meeting Monday, board members agreed on a plan to secure an interim superintendent. Current superintendent Stephanie Lemmer has accepted the job of superintendent at Pennfield Schools in Battle Creek and will be leaving Centreville before the end of …

A Three Rivers woman was arrested on drug-related offenses earlier this week in Lockport Township. Sheriff’s deputies were called shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Haines Road and South Fisher Lake Road. During their investigation, deputies said the 32-year-old driver was found to be in possession of 116 grams of methamphetamine, more than $1,800 in cash and …

St. Joseph County officials made an internal hire to fill the position of community corrections director. Melissa Bliss, who has been working the past year in the county clerk’s office, was tapped to fill the job. It became available when Erin Goff took on the role of emergency services director. County administrator Teresa Doehring announced the personnel move during the …

Based on new recommendations from the CDC and MDHHS, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is changing its isolation and quarantine guidance for people who have tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19. The guidance will better align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. This new guidance applies to the general population and may not apply to …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will have a new chairperson for 2022. During their first meeting of the year Tuesday, commissioners nominated and approved Kathy Pangle to serve as chair of the five-person board. In addition, Dan Czajkowski was named vice-chair. Pangle, whose district is comprised of Park, Mendon, Leonidas, Colon and Burr Oak townships, is starting her sixth …