News

A representative from Three Rivers Fire brought local publicity to the agency after winning Saturday’s pie-eating contest at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Firefighter/paramedic Travis McGahn downed a 9-inch chocolate pie in under seven minutes to claim first place. Firefighters on behalf of eight county departments stepped in with the goal of securing the pie-pan trophy for the next …

New coronavirus cases increased 7.3 percent in Michigan for the week ending Sept. 26, as the state added 23,008 cases. The previous week, the state confirmed 21,442 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 215 cases and four deaths connected with the virus. A week earlier, it had confirmed 199 cases and two deaths. Since the …

August’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by two-tenths of a percent from July. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released last week. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.1 percent in July to 4.9 percent in August. The rate was 6.6 percent 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, Cass …

A Sturgis woman was airlifted from the scene of an accident over the weekend in Sturgis Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of U.S. 12 and White School Road. Investigators said the 25-year-old woman was driving a motorcycle westbound on U.S. 12 when a car driven by a 75-year-old Indiana …

A motorcycle/deer collision in Sherman Township injured a Sturgis man. Sheriff’s deputies were called around 7:30 p.m. Sunday to Balk Road, near Mintdale Road. Investigators said motorcycle was heading north on Balk Road when it struck a deer. The 33-year-old driver was taken to Sturgis Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities said he was wearing a helmet at the time of …

The 2021 St. Joseph County Fair is in the books. The seven-day event concluded Saturday after a strong start Sept. 19. In between, the fair endured plenty of rain, prompting a few grandstand features to be cancelled. Officials said the fair ended on a high note, though, as the weather Friday and Saturday was cool and sunny, and free of …

Monthly rent at Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence in Three Rivers will increase by $50 per month, effective Nov. 1. The hike is due primarily to increases in the cost of utilities, including electric, water and sewer. Expenses for those services have risen substantially over the past 18 months, executive director Pam Riley said. COA board member Clayton Lyczynski said …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Agency said it expects its Circle Line routes in Sturgis and Three Rivers to resume service Tuesday. CTA director Allen Balog said the routes were temporary discontinued last week as agency officials shuffled staffing assignments. Meanwhile, Balog said all other services have been and are continuing as normal. He said curb-to-curb service, designated medical routes, …

A White Pigeon man, accused of hiding a woman’s body after she was struck by a vehicle he was driving, was arraigned Thursday. Authorities said 29-year-old Colby Martin was driving a car that struck Decatur-area resident Melody Rohrer, age 64, Monday in Van Buren County’s Hamilton Township. Martin is charged with manslaughter with a motor vehicle, failure to stop at …

A juvenile considered a runaway was tracked and found Wednesday in a wooded area near Centreville High School. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were notified around 3 p.m. about a runaway from Centreville High School. Deputies requested assistance from Three Rivers Police Department for a K-9 team. K-9 officer Jake aided in tracking the juvenile to a densely wooded area. …