News

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services will start its twice-a-year hydrant flushing Monday. DPS Director Amy Roth said flushing is expected to continue through May 29. It will occur 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Due to many variables, Roth said the department is not able to determine the exact date flushing will be conducted in each …

Sheriff officials were called earlier this week to a report of a stolen all-terrain vehicle in Fabius Township. According to a department media release, deputies responded Tuesday to the 14000 block of Millard Road, where they learned that a red, 1999 Bomberdier ATV was stolen during the overnight hours.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order through April, saying it must continue longer to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The order took effect March 24 and had been scheduled to expire early next week. The order prohibits employers from requiring workers to leave their homes unless necessary to protect life or conduct minimum basic operations. It also bars gatherings …

Erin Goff, Emergency Management Services director for St. Joseph County, provided a COVID-19 update to county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday. Conducted through the remote-conferencing service Zoom, the meeting provided an opportunity for Goff to explain that the agency is assisting public health with community outreach, and assessing personal-protective equipment for first responders, law-enforcement, health-care workers and a number of …

Several odds and ends were approved by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Commissioners accepted annual reports from drain commissioner Jeff Wenzel and grant writer James Hissong; approved the county’s 2020 remonumentation plan; and OK’d parks and recreation’s request for alcohol sales. The occasion is an endurance mountain-bike race at Meyer Broadway Park July 19. The board also agreed …

Appointments to two county panels were approved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. John Gelvin and Sarah Apwisch were appointed to the Commission On Aging Board. Commissioner Al Balog said he and Commissioner Ken Malone, along with COA director Tim Stoll, interviewed both candidates. Balog said Gelvin and Apwisch will be great additions to the COA board. …

Officials say Michigan deaths from the coronavirus rose 16% in the largest daily jump since the pandemic hit the state. The state reported 118 additional deaths related to the respiratory disease caused by the virus, raising the total to 845. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 10% to nearly 19,000. Gov Gretchen Whitmer says “it’s another tough 24 hours” …

If you’re a census slacker and haven’t yet filled out the form for the 2020 head count, the federal government is trying another way to get in touch with you. Starting Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau is mailing out millions of paper forms to homes whose residents haven’t yet answered the once-a-decade questionnaire. About a month into the start of …

The fate of the 2020 community festival season is unclear at the moment, but all eyes are on Three Rivers and Sturgis to see what direction organizers of their respective celebrations take. The two earliest festivals in St. Joseph County, the Three Rivers Water Festival and Sturgis Fest, are the only June events of the eight community celebrations. Cathi Garn …

St. Joe County Resources is tracking by town the percentages of St Joseph County households that have completed the 2020 U.S. Census. Agency officials said progress is being made and would like to remind the public that every 100 people missed in the Census is $2 million dollars that does not come back to local communities in federal funding. From …