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Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency officer Rebecca Burns, wishes to remind the public there should never be a charge for COVID-19 vaccine. Burns said the vaccine has been purchased by the federal government. In some cases, however, the provider may bill for an administration fee. Anyone receiving the vaccine from the local health department will be billed nothing, not even …

The removal of decades-old restrictive covenants assigned to property in Centreville could potentially spur economic growth in the county seat. Zoning administrator Doug Kuhlman told county commissioners during their executive committee meeting last week that the covenants were put in place by a committee that doesn’t appear to exist anymore. During their board meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved a measure that …

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a budget amendment necessary to fix a leaking roof at a county facility. During their board meeting Tuesday, commissioners were brought up-to-date on the status of a roof leak over the atrium area at the Three Rivers Commission on Aging property. County finance director Angie Steinman said the correction was originally slated to be …

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a request to use courthouse property for a local, community festival. During their board meeting Tuesday, the five-member commission OK’d a request from Covered Bridge Days officials. Festival organizers asked to use the courthouse property for the two-day event, which would begin July 9. Commissioners indicated they hope the festival will go on as …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has announced more individuals are invited to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination. The expanded group now includes all essential workers, people age 50 years and older, and people age 16 and older with a chronic healthcare condition. The agency has received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and with additional doses of Moderna and Pfizer being …

The Constantine Fire Department oversaw a controlled burn last weekend along Haybridge Road, near Block Road, in Florence Township. Central dispatch said it received several calls from residents curious about the plume of dark smoke that filled the sky as a result of Saturday’s prescribed burn. The burn was set intentionally with the intent of fostering the regrowth of native …

St. Joseph County officials have endorsed the continuation of a law-enforcement agreement with two communities. Contracts related to sheriff’s department-contracted services with the villages of Burr Oak and Centreville were approved at Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite told commissioners the agreements are renewals and both cover a five-year period. Lillywhite said with a few minor exceptions, terms of …

A 56-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested early Monday on a felony warrant following a traffic stop in Branch County. State police troopers attempted to stop a vehicle shortly before 1 a.m. near the intersection of Morse and State streets for an equipment violation. Troopers enacted a felony stop and contacted the occupants: the driver and a 47-year-old female from …

A Washtenaw County man was arrested after he broke into a residence in Branch County’s Girard Township. State police troopers were contacted around 1 a.m. Monday regarding a home invasion in the 200 block of Hawley Center Drive. The victim told investigators he awoke by a sound outside his residence, and noticed a man had entered his vehicle and appeared …

The Three Rivers Promise Board has announced the start of a public campaign to fund an endowment to support graduates of Three Rivers High School in furthering their education. The goal of the Three Rivers Promise is to provide every graduate of Three Rivers High School a scholarship toward tuition and mandatory fees for post-secondary education at Michigan public colleges …