News

The Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency has experienced an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases being reported and variant spread, similar to the rest of Michigan the past few weeks. According to an agency media release, it is following MDHHS guidance on reinstituting a standard, 14-day quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 cases. This will remove …

The Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency has announced it is pausing all use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA and CDC have recommended this pause, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the recommendation, as well. Health officer Rebecca Burns said the agency is immediately stopping all use of the Johnson …

A Jonesville woman was arrested after she broke into a residence in Branch County’s Quincy Township. Michigan State Police troopers were called at 2 a.m. Monday to the 300 block of Maple Road in response to a home invasion in progress. Investigators said a 22-year-old woman who appeared to be heavily under the influence of alcohol entered the residence and …

A 68-year-old Three Rivers man was sentenced to a year in jail for his role in the 2020 traffic-related crash of his girlfriend. Richard Sanford was sentenced last week by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. The sentence stemmed from the January 2020 incident in which Kathleen Wexler, 69, was a passenger in the vehicle Sanford was driving …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating an arson incident that occurred last week in Branch County’s Bethel Township. According to a department media release, the agency is looking for a woman who was seen around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near the location where an excavator was later reported to be on fire. The area in question is in the 200 block …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees has approved tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic year. During their board meeting last week, trustees agreed to keep tuition rates flat, drop the $25 distance-learning course fee and implement a technology fee of $9 per contact hour. Based on the instructional changes brought by COVID, president David Devier said he believes …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place last week in White Pigeon Township. According to an agency media release, troopers were called Tuesday to the White Pigeon Sanitary System administrative office, in the 1600 block of Indian Prairie Road. The incident happened between 6 and 8:30 p.m. April 5. Authorities said the suspect arrived on …

Three people were arrested last week on drug-related offenses after sheriff’s deputies were investigating the theft of a motorcycle. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies received information about the stolen motorcycle and went to a Park Township residence around 8 p.m. Thursday to investigate. Upon arrival at the residence, located in the 54000 block of Fisher Street, deputies made contact with …

A 5K run and 1-mile walk/run fundraiser for the foster-support group Rooted drew more than 125 participants and dozens of volunteers to downtown Burr Oak Saturday. Tiffany Wagler, executive director of the newly developed non-profit organization, said she and her husband, Rob, are humbled by the level of support. Proceeds will go to Rooted’s general fund. Wagler explained that Rooted …

Faced with the country’s highest rate of new coronavirus infections, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday urged a two-week suspension of in-person high school classes, all youth sports and indoor restaurant dining. She stopped short of ordering restrictions, instead asking for voluntary compliance to slow the spread of COVID-19. High schools should shift to virtual learning, both school and non-school …