News

St. Joseph County officials took another step toward potentially securing as much as $500,000 in emergency funds as a result of heavy storms Aug. 11 and 12. Erin Goff, county emergency services and Homeland Security director, attended Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting to detail the next steps necessary in a lengthy reimbursement process. She said Tuesday’s action was more of …

A White Pigeon man was charged with drug-related offense following a traffic stop earlier this week in Florence Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies stopped a vehicle shortly before 3 a.m. Monday on Constantine Road, near Stears Road. The driver was identified as a 40-year-old man and was the lone occupant in the vehicle. Authorities located 23 grams of methamphetamine …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is offering a sneak peak to a future nature preserve in Allegan County. Agency officials said a tour will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Armintrout-Milbocker Preserve. It is located at the east end of Thomas Street in Allegan. The 30-year-old Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is finalizing the purchase of the …

The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department is hosting six community flu-shot clinics through the end of the month. The schedule includes a clinic next week in Marcellus. According to health department officials, there will be clinics Thursday in Dowagiac, Tuesday in Lawrence and Oct. 14 in Marcellus. It will take place 2 to 5 p.m. at Marcellus High School’s gymnasium. …

New coronavirus cases leaped in Michigan during the week ending Sunday, rising 16.3 percent, as 26,768 cases were reported. Meanwhile, St. Joseph County reported 262 COVID-19 cases and one related death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 215 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic, St. Joseph County has reported 7,622 cases and 111 deaths. Michigan ranked …

Beacon Health System and Three Rivers Health officials on Monday announced they have finalized an agreement for the 60-bed, acute-care facility to become the eighth hospital in the non-profit Beacon Health System and the first in the state of Michigan. Under the agreement, Beacon Health System has committed to investing more than $20 million over the next five years at …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is offering Pfizer vaccine booster doses to residents who previously received two doses of Pfizer vaccine, with the second dose being at least six months ago. Agency officials said at least one of the following criteria also must be met: 65 years of age or older, 18 or older with underlying medical conditions, or working …

Here’s a reminder that the 10th annual St. Joseph County United Way Mega Raffle fundraiser takes place next week. Executive Director Kelly Hostetler said 330 tickets are available. They are $100 each and the drawing takes place Oct. 14. Additional prizes include $500 for the first ticket drawn and $100 for several more after that. There are prizes of $1,000 …

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling was deemed “typical” for the fall event at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the four-hour program netted 6,000 pounds of household hazardous waste, 35,000 pounds of electronics and 850 tires. Committee secretary Pat Kulikowski said the last few collections have seen a …

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County said speed and alcohol may have been factors in a crash that left a teenager dead and four passengers injured. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 11:30 p.m. Friday to Mason Street, near Gordon Road, in Mason Township. Upon arriving on scene, deputies located a 2004 Saturn Ion on its roof in a …