News

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority has saved more than $5,000 a month the past two months as the result of low gas prices. CTA director Steve Yorks said the agency’s monthly fuel bills are typically about $25,000. In November it spent about $19,000 on gas, while its December fuel expense was about $18,000. Yorks said neither he nor anybody …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting a significant uptick in reports of flu-like illnesses over those reported in November. Steve Todd, health officer for the tri-county health department, said while the actual number of reported flu cases since the end of November has only grown from zero to 13 cases, the number of flu-like illnesses has more than …

Five unlocked vehicles were ransacked and had items stolen from them during incidents that occurred last week in Leonidas and Colon Townships. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incidents occurred between late Thursday night and in the early morning hours Friday on Blossom Road. The first incident took place outside a residence in the 54000 block of Blossom …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has announced it is accepting nominations for the “Three Rivers Lions Club Bruce C. Snook Citizen of the Year” award. Presented since 1965, the Three Rivers Lions Club’s Citizen of the Year award was renamed in 2014 to honor Snook, a community activist and longtime Lion who passed away in 2013. The award recognizes people …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, through its program called “Ins and Outs,” is scheduling appointments to assist area residents with signing up through the Healthcare Marketplace or for Medicaid. Open enrollment for the Healthcare Marketplace will end Feb. 15. According to Steve Todd, health officer for the tri-county health department, the agency has available eight certified, in-person assisters who …

Camp Fort Hill has announced details regarding its second annual Winter Adventure event. From 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 24, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to snow shoe or cross-country ski. The free event will also feature soup, sandwiches and s’mores. Also, drawings for gift cards to Lee’s Sports will take place throughout the afternoon Jan. 24. …

A state Transportation spokesman says speed and “driver behavior” are to blame for a 193-vehicle pileup that killed one man and closed a stretch of Interstate 94 for two days.  Nick Schirripa tells the Kalamazoo Gazette for a story Tuesday that “people were driving too fast and following too closely on an icy freeway during a white-out” Friday near Galesburg …

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office is interviewing a person of interest after a woman was shot to death close to Western Michigan University. Deputies say they found the 21-year old woman shot last night at Copper Beech Townhomes in Oshtemo Township, and she died later at a hospital. A man reportedly called 911 to report the shooting about 6:00 Sunday night, …

Pits and gouges will remain on Interstate 94 in southwest Michigan between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek until crews can repave the areas where several vehicles burned in a massive pileup on Friday.  Michigan State Police say 123 vehicles were involved in the crash that closed both the east and westbound lanes of I-94 from late Friday morning until 4:30 a.m. …

It’s going to take at least a few days to get all the wreckage sorted out from Friday’s 193-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Kalamazoo County. That means added frustration for the owners of the cars and trucks involved, who had to leave the vehicles on the highway. Several tow truck company employees tell the Kalamazoo Gazette that they’re urging people to …