News

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants to ensure drivers and their passengers are safe year-round, especially including the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There were 513 passenger-vehicle occupants killed in vehicle crashes across the nation in 2018. Two recent trends have sprung from the Thanksgiving holiday: “Blackout Wednesday” and “Danksgiving,” both trends that highlight and even encourage the heavy consumption of …

A crowdfunding effort by the St. Joseph County Commission On Aging reached its $50,000 goal. COA director Tim Stoll said as a result of meeting its goal, the agency qualifies for a $50,000 match through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Stoll said the funds will help with development of a park at the newly opened Rivers Enrichment Center at the …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Ron Moag received an evaluation of “effective” during a special meeting last week. Moag, the district’s second-year superintendent, was graded based on an evaluation procedure established by the Michigan Association of School Boards. District officials said a tally of all categories resulted in a score of 3.4 on a four-point scale. The 86 percent rating …

The Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees has voted to notify the county that it intends to go to voters with a millage request in March. The motion was made by Carol Higgins, who questioned the board whether members might seek a millage in the future. The board had agreed not to pursue a millage until after the recently …

Classes resumed Monday without incident for Three Rivers High School students. The high school on Friday last week was placed into what district officails called a “soft lockdown” around 10 a.m. due to a school threat. Students at the high school were released for the day at 11:30 a.m. as a precaution. Superintendent Ron Moag said the district was able …

A 19-year-old Colon man was arraigned Friday on a charge of open murder in the death of 55-year-old Todd Schwartz, also of Colon. Ethan Dingman is being held without bond. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said Dingman made a call to 911 shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday to alert authorities to the situation. Schwartz’s body was found in a …

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 1 percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.7 percent October’s unemployment rate marked an increase from September’s 3.7 percent. St. Joseph County was above the state’s unemployment average, which was 3.5 percent in October. Employment rose, …

A Mendon man was arrested last week on traffic- and drug-related charges. Sheriff Brad Balk said the man was in a car pulled over for an equipment violation around 2 p.m. Friday on M-66 near Hackman Road in Burr Oak Township. During the deputy’s investigation, the driver was found to be operating the vehicle without a license and had put …

St. Joseph County is home to two state championship teams following action over the weekend. Colon High School won the 8-man Division 1 football championship Saturday at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette. The Magi topped Suttons Bay, 26-14, in front of hundreds of Colon fans. The win caps off a 13-0 season for fourth-year head coach Robbie Hatten …

Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Old M-205 and Cassopolis Road. Deputies said 65-year-old Cassopolis resident William Thorley was driving south on M-205 when an oncoming automobile crossed the center line and collided with his …