News

Investigators are trying to find the cause of a fire in a Three Rivers mobile home that killed two young boys on Wednesday. Antonisha Winters lost her four and two-year-old sons in the blaze on the west side of the city. Firefighters found the bodies of the boys in a badly-burned bedroom shortly after arriving on the scene. The children …

Three Rivers Health is the latest hospital to implement precautions in light of a spike in reports of the flu. The temporary measure is now in place and calls for a number of safeguards, including a requirement that visitors must be 12 years of age or older. In addition, emergency-room visitors are limited to two per patient and OB patients …

An Indiana woman and a Sturgis man appeared before a magistrate Wednesday related to their alleged involvement in an armed robbery last week. Charges of armed robbery and felony firearms were officially leveled against Kayla Cockburn, 20, of Middlebury, and Michael Z. Strong, 20, of Sturgis. Their bond was set at $100,000 each and they remain in the St. Joseph …

A pair of legislators who collectively represented St. Joseph County for a full decade was honored by a panel of county officials this week. Former State Sen. Bruce Caswell and former State Rep. Matt Lori were acknowledged by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting. Resolutions honoring the pair were read by Commissioner Rick Shaffer and approved …

A family of four somehow escaped without any major injuries after their minivan was dragged for 16 miles early Wednesday by a semi on Interstate 75 in northern Michigan. Matt Menz says he rear-ended the big rig around 2 a.m. in a white-out in Roscommon County because he couldn’t see that the truck had slowed down. He and his wife …

Two people have been arrested in connection with last weekend’s armed robbery at the Marathon gas station on South Centerville Road in Sturgis. The suspects, a male and female, both 20, are in the St. Joseph County jail. Names were withheld pending arraignment. Public Safety Director Geoff Smith said the public played a major role in the investigation through numerous tips …

The most-tenured employee for St. Joseph County government announced Tuesday she plans to retire later this year. Clerk and register of deeds Pattie Bender issued a media release Tuesday, indicating her plan to retire June 30. The 64-year-old Bender joined the county in 1970 and became clerk in 1991, succeeding Beverly Burnham. A lifelong Centreville resident, Bender said she looks …

Sturgis Hospital officials have announced new rules for visiting the hospital during the flu season. Influenza season guidelines are: Hospital visitors must be 18 years or older; visitors to the obstetric unit must be immediate family. Siblings under age 18 visiting a newborn may be screened for fever; one visitor per patient is allowed in the emergency department; and patients …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the third consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2015. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 17th year on the commission. This will be his seventh year overall as chairman. The nomination …

Sturgis Police are continuing their investigation into a robbery early Saturday morning at the Sturgis Petroleum Marathon Gas Station. A gunman, armed with a black handgun, entered the business – located at the corner of Fawn River and South Centerville Road – just after 4 a. m. Saturday. The suspect entered the store and demanded money from an employee. After …