News

Here’s the latest COVID-19 update from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. The agency said Branch County is seeing the largest increase, with 76 new cases during the one-week period ending July 26. Meanwhile, Hillsdale County had 17 new cases and St. Joseph County had 13 new cases. As a result of its increase, Branch County has been labeled “high …

June’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent from May. 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 5.6 percent in May to 5.5 percent in June. The rate was 10.7 percent a year earlier, as June …

A man wanted in the killing of his 82-year-old father, whose body was found last week in his Kalamazoo-area home, was arrested Saturday. Scott Sterffy, age 56, was arrested in Kalamazoo and is expected to be arraigned Monday, the Portage Department of Public Safety said in a news release. Steffry was wanted on an open murder charge and a charge …

The remains of a mid-Michigan soldier killed in combat during the Korean War will be returned to his hometown for burial after military scientists identified them seven decades after his death. The remains of U.S. Army Sgt. William Cavender, age 20, were among more than 55 boxes of remains of U.S. servicemembers North Korea turned over to the U.S. in …

The University of Michigan and Michigan State University will require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the fall semester. Both university presidents said Friday that action is being taken due to the spread of the more infectious delta variant. Michigan State is taking things a step further and requiring masks to be …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has provided updated figures regarding COVID-19 and its vaccinations for the week ending July 25. Agency officials said St. Joseph County reported 12 new cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported eight cases, and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic, the county has reported 6,288 cases and 101 …

Geri’s Resource Center and The Huss School Project have joined to present “Math Camp on the Farm.” The free, hands-on, outdoor learning experience is for students entering sixth and seventh grades. The first session starts Monday and concludes Friday. The second session runs Aug. 9 through Aug. 13. Both sessions are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Take-home lunch is available …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of catalytic converters from two vehicles in Calhoun County. The larcenies occurred between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday at the park-and-ride lot off Michigan Avenue at I-69.

St. Joseph County commissioners are expected to make at least four exceptions to their hiring freeze to fill key positions. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman told commissioners during their executive committee meeting Wednesday he would like to fill three openings – two at animal control and a deputy road patrol position. Meanwhile, Tabitha Wedge, District Court administrator/magistrate, asked commissioners to consider an …

The St. Joseph County United Way is offering $50 gift cards to people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The promotion will conclude Sept. 30th or until the inventory of gift cards has been exhausted. United Way Executive Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency was the recipient of $58,000 to help local healthcare providers get more people vaccinated in St. Joseph …